Yusuf is the founder of South African based AppYourGame, a recently launched platform that seeks to showcase digital products built in Africa and the people behind the brilliant ideas. In this interview with Exclusive Africa’s Editor, Wale Ameen, he shares insights into the inspiration behind the brand, plans for the platform and many more. Enjoy.
Can we meet you?
My name is Yusuf and I’m a South African-based entrepreneur with years of hands-on experience leading and designing digital products for African businesses solving problems through the use of technology. Yusuf combines empathy and curiosity to build better digital experiences for and with people.
Currently, I serve as Managing Director for Jack Studios where we help African entrepreneurs make their dream digital product a reality. Helping them find product-market fit quickly and affordably through connections with humans and technology.
Tell us about AppYourGame. What inspired setting up of the platform? When was it founded and how does it help brands?
App Your Game (beta) was launched on Africa Day (25th May 2021) as a community service platform.
I started App Your Game to showcase the digital products being built on the African continent and active members in the tech scene. I found the need to introduce to the people actually using these products those behind them. This is for them to know who the real Rockstars are; individuals solving Africa’s problems through the use of technology. Letting them know that it’s not big corporations but their family members, friends or neighbours and as such to have a little empathy when using a particular feature and it is not working.
App Your Game’s mission is to make good products great by empowering the future digital product leaders of Africa, through crowdsourced optimization. We seek to establish, enhance & promote authentic African digital products that make a difference in people’s lives.
How has the reception been for this platform so far? First from users end and also on the part of digital product owners. Do you hope to monetize this anytime in the future?
To be honest, we have not yet marketed the platform, we are still in beta and trying to find product-market fit. This article will be our first form of “marketing”. The goal is to monetize sooner rather than later. Currently, we are building a network of experts, allowing intending digital product founders access to African founders who have context launching a digital product within the African context. In phase 2 we will be paying users to be beta testers for digital products listed on App Your Game.
How do you foresee the platform enabling founders now and into the future?
The main purpose of the platform is to help digital products owners with awareness and distribution, one of the main pain points founders struggle with is marketing their product. We want to be the GO-TO place to discover and learn about African digital products.
Last words…
App Your Game to be a digital incubator, nesting the unicorns of Africa. Thank you.
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