Tich enters EquityPilot to connect 15-34-year-olds with on-demand jobs

Nairobi & Dubai — March 7, 2026 — Tich App, a mobile-first marketplace connecting Kenyan youth aged 15–34 with short-term and gig opportunities, has joined the EquityPilot program and is seeking $150,000 to complete product development and launch pilots in Nairobi and Mombasa. By digitizing informal labour listings and adding ratings, references, and basic contract guidance, the platform aims to bring greater transparency and trust to on-demand hiring.

Addressing urban youth unemployment

Kenya’s expanding youth population is both a national strength and a policy challenge. Young people aged 15–34 account for a significant share of the population, yet many struggle to access stable work—especially in rapidly growing cities such as Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, and Eldoret. In informal settlements, job information is fragmented and often travels by word of mouth, limiting visibility for both job seekers and employers.

Tich App targets this gap by acting as a digital bridge between employers seeking flexible labour and young people looking for safe, verifiable opportunities. The aim is to reduce friction, improve matching, and expand access to income-generating work.

How Tich App works

• Aggregates short-term, gig, and informal job opportunities into a single, searchable mobile app.
• Introduces ratings, references, and basic contract guidance to increase accountability and reduce exploitation.
• Encourages transparent hiring practices through standardized listings and improved communication tools.
• Prioritizes a mobile-first experience aligned with urban youth digital habits.

By organizing previously opaque job channels, Tich App aims to help employers make faster, better-informed hires while giving young workers more control over the opportunities they pursue.

Why now

Rising smartphone adoption and social media usage among urban youth make a mobile-centric marketplace both timely and practical. As gig-based and flexible work continue to grow, the need for a trusted platform—where expectations, pay, and timelines are clarified—has become increasingly urgent. Tich App seeks to meet this demand with a product experience designed around speed, transparency, and safety.

Joining EquityPilot: milestones and metrics

Through EquityPilot, Tich App will focus on disciplined execution and measurable impact:

• First 60 days: Refine the Android application and run targeted pilots across Nairobi and Mombasa.
• Program support: Receive execution coaching, go-to-market guidance, and access to a network of mentors.
• Early growth metrics: Track job placements, user retention, and employer satisfaction to inform scaling and product iteration.

“We’re excited to support Tich through EquityPilot. The focus will be on execution milestones and connecting the startup with the right ecosystem stakeholders,” said Hesham Zreik.

Local expertise at the core

Tich’s founding team combines two decades of Kenyan marketing experience with digital product delivery and tech-hub operations. Rooted in local market knowledge, the team is building with community input to ensure the platform remains relevant to the realities of urban job seekers and the needs of small businesses and households that hire them.

Funding and go-to-market plan

Tich App is seeking US$150,000 to finalize Android development and execute a 12-month go-to-market program. The rollout will prioritize community outreach in informal settlements, partner activations with local hubs, and employer education to encourage transparent, repeat hiring. Funds will also support product enhancements based on pilot feedback, ensuring the app can scale responsibly across multiple Kenyan cities.

Expected impact

• Increased visibility of legitimate, short-term job opportunities for 15–34-year-olds.
• Faster and more reliable matching between employers and job seekers.
• Improved fairness through clearer expectations, basic contract guidance, and ratings.
• Actionable data on placements and satisfaction to continually improve the marketplace.

By formalizing how informal jobs are found and filled, Tich App aims to unlock incremental income for young people while helping employers hire with greater confidence. The upcoming pilots in Nairobi and Mombasa will serve as a proving ground for product-market fit, paving the way for broader national expansion.