A new tech initiative is turning township residents into digital trailblazers – one corner shop at a time. Timbuk2, a South African AI startup, has launched a groundbreaking project that pays everyday people to map the informal businesses that fuel their communities.
Armed with smartphones and purpose, participants – called “data agents” – roam their neighborhoods capturing photos, chatting with business owners, and submitting details through Timbuk2’s dashboard. Each verified entry earns them real cash, and the app keeps engagement high with challenges, rewards, and friendly leaderboards.
It’s like Pokémon Go with a mission: revealing the invisible economy that powers township life.
In a recent mapping effort in Tlhabane, Rustenburg, data collectors found that a staggering 79% of spaza shops weren’t listed on any digital platform – not even Google Maps. That kind of invisibility cuts them off from supply chains, funding opportunities, and government support.
“These businesses are the backbone of township life, but officially, they barely exist on paper,” said Timbuk2’s founder. “We’re changing that by making mapping fun, social, and worthwhile for the people who know these communities best.”
Beyond improving maps, the data has real impact: helping government planners, NGOs, and private sector players better understand and serve informal economies. During one data sweep, agents even discovered three water purification stations in Tlhabane – highlighting local solutions to the community’s clean water needs.
It’s also a job creator. Young people in under-resourced areas are earning legitimate income while documenting the entrepreneurship that surrounds them daily. And they’re not just collecting numbers – they’re telling the stories of the hustlers, hairstylists, and shopkeepers who keep township economies alive.
By 2026, Timbuk2 hopes to expand the model across the continent.
“We’re not just drawing a map,” said the founder. “We’re empowering communities to showcase their strength and potential. This is ekasi telling its own story, in its own words.”
