South African Startup VOCO Revolutionizes Career Development for Young People
The South African startup VOCO is a professional orientation and skills development platform that helps young people between 13 and 23 years old chart their career paths. Launched this year, it offers personalized guidance via AI, practical training, educational opportunities, and access to the job market.
VOCO connects young people with mentors, internships, training, and job opportunities through partnerships with companies, NGOs, and educational institutions, providing them with the tools to discover their passion and build a sustainable career.
The platform addresses the significant gap between market needs and educational pathways, which often leaves students without a plan or market-adapted skills. By responding to this challenge, VOCO has recorded positive adoption, particularly from educational institutions and small and medium-sized enterprises.
Currently in the pre-seed phase, VOCO is primarily self-funded and is actively seeking investments to support its growth, with a primary focus on launching its MVP early next year. Although focused on the South African market, where youth unemployment is a major issue, the startup has broader ambitions.
Plans include expanding into other African regions facing similar challenges and exploring international markets where the model can be adapted. The long-term goal is to develop an evolving model that can be replicated in different countries, adapting to local needs.
VOCO's business model is based on subscriptions, offering a candidate tracking system and customized services for small businesses and NGOs, including skills development and recruitment programs. Revenues are still modest, with a focus on developing the platform. Profitability is expected to come with growth and expansion in the ed-tech sector.
