Merkato.net (or my private gateway to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) (2016 -....)

Ownership of a mobile marketplace platform, my father, team of two on the ground in Addis Abeba, cooperation with two NGOs and Sudio Louter - Work in Progress

In my past, I have worked a lot in marketplaces (think of Gumtree, Craigslist, Marktplaats). I got intrigued by how easy people connect through these platforms in trust and openness driven by the thrill of getting a good deal. 

Nowadays, years later, I brought this experience from the past into play in my studio. Together with great partners, I designed and developed my own mobile marketplace in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. On merkato.net you can find the platform, though I am afraid the local language will be tough for you. The journey we are currently in with people that I admire and are close to me, already fills me with great joy. The prospect of having my own private gateway to Ethiopia from June onwards and using it to develop art by connecting with people through the platform without even having set foot in the country fills me with great anxiety. What we will create is work in progress, I am sure we get some great inspiration once the platform is up and running. 

The fact that we also aim to grow the platform into a leading marketplace is a fantastic add-on, yet also crucial to reach a significant amount tof people through the platform. Only the biggest platforms survive in this world.  

If you want to get involved in this project, have ideas how to leverage this gateway or would like to stay tuned what will happen: please connect with me.  

P.S. Why Ethiopia? First of all: because I can. Second, because it was the only country allowed in the non-compete that I signed a while ago :-)