This archive report was first published on 18 November 2021.
Kenyan tech startup Wowzi is making waves in the African region with its ambitious plan to create one million jobs for the youth by 2022. The company, which connects brands with influencers to scale up their marketing, aims to onboard over a million youth onto its platform.
Speaking at the company's official launch in the East African market, Wowzi Co-Founder and CEO Brian Mogeni highlighted the growing importance of social media in marketing strategies. 'Social media platforms provide a large canvas for brand visibility, with the average human being spending 145 minutes on social media per day,' he said.
East Africa has a significant social media presence, with 20 million users according to the Hootsuite Digital 2021 Data Report. Kenya leads the pack with 11 million social media users, followed by Tanzania and Uganda.
Wowzi has already signed up 50,000 influencers in the East African Region and has carried out 15,000 campaigns for over 150 clients. The company has also demonstrated its success with a notable campaign for Safaricom, which generated 3 million views for a hashtag challenge within seven hours.
Wowzi plans to enter three new markets, including Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa, over the next month. The company's ambitious plan is expected to tap into the gig economy and create jobs for economic growth, according to Absa Bank Kenya Chief Executive Jeremy Awori.
