Kenyan startup, Balozy, is positioning itself at the intersection of artificial intelligence, trust infrastructure, and Africa’s vast informal service economy. The startup seeks to professionalise how everyday services are discovered, booked, and paid for across local communities.
Founded in 2022, Balozy is an AI-powered service marketplace that connects customers with vetted service providers such as plumbers, electricians, cleaners, and tutors.
Unlike traditional classifieds or informal referrals, the platform integrates provider verification, escrow-backed payments, compliance frameworks, and audit trails, aiming to reduce fraud while ensuring dignity and fair compensation for workers.
“Our platform emphasises trust, dignity, and verified hustle, ensuring that providers are vetted and customers feel secure,” CEO Steve Nganga told Disrupt Africa.
What You Need to Know
Kenya, like much of Africa, runs on a vibrant but largely informal service economy. Millions rely daily on skilled workers who often lack digital visibility, formal credentials, or reliable payment systems.
According to Nganga, this creates a dual problem: customers struggle to find trustworthy professionals, while providers remain underpaid and excluded from digital growth.
“We saw that while Kenya and Africa have a vibrant service economy, most providers remain undiscovered, unverified, and underpaid. Customers often struggle to find reliable professionals, and providers lack digital tools to showcase their skills. Existing platforms either focus narrowly on classifieds, or lack robust trust mechanisms.
Balozy’s response is a trust-first marketplace that verifies service providers before onboarding them and protects transactions through escrow payments. Funds are held securely until services are delivered, reducing disputes and minimising scams, an issue that has long plagued informal service markets.
Rapid Uptake Across Multiple Regions
Available on both Google Play and the Apple App Store, Balozy has seen what Nganga describes as “energising and rapid” adoption. Thousands of service providers have already joined the platform, with customer usage growing steadily.
The startup currently operates across Nairobi, Nakuru, Machakos, the Rift Valley, and coastal regions, reflecting demand beyond Kenya’s capital.
Balozy generates revenue through a credit-based transaction system. Service providers purchase credits to respond to verified job requests, while the platform earns commissions on completed transactions. The model, according to the company, promotes transparency and allows providers to control their spending.
To increase engagement, Balozy offers additional features such as roll-over credits, referral rewards, and AI-powered booking tips, designed to help providers improve conversion rates and encourage larger credit packages.
Compliance, Education, and the Challenge of Scale
Operating at the intersection of marketplaces and fintech has not been without challenges. Nganga points to building trust in a scam-wary market, navigating Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) and fintech regulations, and educating service providers on digital onboarding and escrow logic as key hurdles.
Balancing rapid growth with operational discipline has also tested the team, particularly as the platform expands beyond Nairobi into secondary cities and regions.
So far, Balozy has been self-funded, but the startup plans to raise institutional capital later this year to support regional expansion. The roadmap includes scaling across East Africa, followed by a move into West African markets.
Beyond geography, Balozy said it is also exploring partnerships with NGOs, financial institutions, and educational institutions to deepen trust, improve compliance, and integrate service providers more fully into local economies.
Talking Points
It is noteworthy that Balozy is prioritising trust and verification in a sector that has long struggled with scams and informal practices, directly addressing one of the biggest barriers in Africa’s service economy: lack of confidence between customers and providers.
By combining verified onboarding with escrow-backed payments, Balozy positions itself as more than a listings platform. This approach creates real protection for customers while giving service providers dignity, fair pay, and credibility in their local communities.
At Techparley, we see platforms like Balozy as critical to formalising the informal economy, especially for everyday workers such as plumbers, electricians, cleaners, and tutors who have historically been excluded from digital marketplaces.
The integration of AI-powered matching, compliance frameworks, audit trails, and payments into a single platform means service providers can operate with greater transparency and professionalism, similar to structured enterprises.
As Balozy scales across East Africa and eyes West African markets, partnerships with NGOs, financial institutions, and training centres could accelerate adoption and deepen community integration. With the right execution, Balozy has the potential to become a foundational layer for trust-driven service marketplaces across Africa.
——————-
Bookmark Techparley.com for the most insightful technology news from the African continent.
Follow us on Twitter @Techparleynews, on Facebook at Techparley Africa, on LinkedIn at Techparley Africa, or on Instagram at Techparleynews.
