This archive report was first published on 22 October 2021.
October 22, 2021 - Google has launched a beta version of its Task Mate app in Kenya, marking a significant milestone in the country's growing crowdsourcing market.
Task Mate is a crowdsourcing app that enables users to sign up on their smartphones, complete tasks, and earn rewards. The app is currently available on the Play Store, although users in Kenya are placed on a wait-list and will be notified once tasks are posted.
According to Business Today, Google is keen on partnering with businesses and organizations to help them solve challenges using Task Mate. The app offers a wide range of tasks, including taking photos, transcribing, translating, and more, catering to various skill levels.
Task Mate's beta launch in Kenya follows a year-long experimental program, during which users took on tasks such as photographing plants for a Penn State University research project. The app's success has led to a larger-scale experiment, with 1,000 users participating in the pilot phase and providing positive feedback.
Task Mate Product Manager Mike Knapp revealed that the company is looking for businesses and startups to collaborate with, experimenting with the platform to solve complex problems. The app's potential to address Kenya's high youth unemployment rate and capitalize on crowdsourcing technologies makes it an attractive opportunity for companies.
Kenya's relatively high smartphone and internet penetration rates have made it an ideal playground for companies like Task Mate. However, the country has also seen its share of online scams, including Public Likes and Amazon Web Worker Africa, which have disguised themselves as task-for-cash apps.
Task Mate is currently being piloted in India, with a larger global roll-out reportedly on the horizon.
