South Africa-based Uusi, a phone-based jobs social network, says it expects to launch Uusi Brand Pages and a Career College to provide its more than 100,000 registered users with tools and short courses to improve their marketability in the job market.
The Brand Pages on the mobile platform will allow firms to advertise their services and wares to Uusi network of people accessing Internet on mobile. The Career College will act as a guidance program to the youths out of school or formal employment.
Uusi allows its users to register via Mxit — a leading African mobile social network — for job searches, placement and opportunities as well as build a network through social friendships, get career guidance and create a PDF format CV on their mobile phones.
Terence Hendricks who founded Uusi in Cape Town, South Africa, told HumanIPO he was inspired to develop the platform after he noted the high rate of unemployment among the youth.
Hendricks explained to HumanIPO that the high levels of unemployment in the community of Bridgetown where he lives drove him to act.
“I was at one time unemployed. I then decided to use my mobile technology experience to help others come out from the predicaments.”
In 2009, Hendricks started conceptualizing the idea with a first prototype built in 2010 before he pitched it to the audience and judges at the World Wide Web Conference in Durban.
Uusi released its private beta via Mxit last year in November, and in February this year, it launched its mobile app.
The mobile social network for member access to employment, business and educational opportunities now boasts of more than 1,000 mobile CVs and profiles created per day with more than 100,000+ registered job seekers. The platform has passed over 10 million-job views since going live.
Hendriks says they currently have more 50,000 CVs uploaded mobile CVs by their registered users while the site boasts of more than 30,000 unique visitors per day and up to 7,000,000 job views since its late November launch.
The startup has a four-man team comprising Terence, Clive, Terry and Norma. The four say they are poised to make money by premium posting with customized pages for companies and brands on the platform and also through advertising and micro-work via the platform.
Uusi is now eyeing Africa’s mobile advertising market.
