Say you have an idea for a tech startup and need to validate it. Or have gone ahead to create a digital product, or want to achieve successful market entry for your tech startup. The question is, would a pool of 100,000 individuals (Volunteers) ready and willing to help you validate the idea, product or market be any good? Moreso they will be willing to help absolutely free provided you are willing to provide an enabling work environment for them to acquire hands-on work experience. Let’s not forget engagements are remote and flexible. Would this be worth exploring?

The above is what we are set to create at SkilledUp Life all within our third (3) year –  a pool of 100,000 volunteers available to your tech startup.

SkilledUp Life has built a volunteer base of 16,500+ and somehow we will be doing magic with our teams to achieve 100,000 volunteers.

Since its founding in August 2020, SkilledUp Life has recorded relative growth. In 2021 we set a target to achieve 10 times growth on the supply side. At the end of July 2021, we were able to add 1,000 volunteers with the help of our Volunteer acquisition team powered by Volunteers. In 2022, we set out to achieve a total of 11,000 volunteers by the end of the business year (effectively 31 July 2022) – This was achieved seven (7) days after the year-end.  For the third year, we are looking at 100,000 volunteers – and our team is optimistic about achieving this target.

How are we going to achieve our Goal?

Our proposition to volunteers is clear – Hands-on Work Experience. SkilledUp Life has provided raw talents with real work experience to land a job in their dream companies. Educational qualifications are no longer the ideal package, companies demand real work experience before considering prospects for the job. To bring more of these volunteers on board to explore our offer. We will actively do the following;

Creating an organic brand on social media

Social media is a wide marketplace. Many of our target audience, especially young vibrant youths all use social media platforms. Creating content that speaks to their needs will be central to our volunteer acquisition drive. While live events will propel the engine further by adding human and engageable faces to what we offer.

If possible, we will be automating our opportunities as posts on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a treasure trove of talents who are searching for jobs, many of whom are struggling to land their first gig due to a lack of experience in the role they applied for. We will be helping them solve that problem. We will be priming to achieve 50% of our goals through this approach.

Student Ambassadorship

What we will be doing here is creating an avenue for students to develop experience and skills before they graduate. However, we will have people coordinating our outreaches on their campuses with boots on the ground. Students need jobs as such our proposition on campus is to prepare them ahead of time. Many of our volunteers are currently from Africa. Our largest market has emerged from Africa. We are going deep into Africa because we believe Africa is right for our service. The media outreach will also expand all around the world and not Africa alone. We will be priming to achieve 45% of our goals through this approach.

Partnerships

We look to partner with more specialised education technology entities especially those who provide training services. The idea is that there will be a steady pipeline of strained talents simply looking for hands-on experience. We will be priming to achieve 5% of our goals through this approach.

To be a part of this community either as a tech startup or volunteer, sign up on our website today at www.skilleduplife.com 

Author: Binta Isimbabi – Content Marketing Volunteer
Editor: Manoj Ranaweera