Three Steps. That's Really All It Takes.
Getting started with ShokaConnect is simple, secure, and straightforward.
Step 1: Find the right partner
Browse the Marketplace to find the perfect match for your project or product needs.
- Explore verified businesses and service providers
- Filter by category, ratings, and location
- View detailed profiles and portfolios
Step 2: To start the deal
Buy Now for immediate purchases, or Start Project to receive competitive bids.
- Choose between instant purchases or project bidding
- Set your budget and timeline
- Communicate directly with providers
Step 3: Choose and get it done safely
Review bids, use escrow protection, track milestones, and approve work with confidence.
- Compare proposals and select the best fit
- Protected payments held in secure escrow
- Release funds only when you’re satisfied
No risky deposits. No chasing people. Just a safe, clear way to do business where both buyers and sellers are protected every step of the way.
Got Questions?
We Have Got Answers.
General Questions
ShokaConnect is a secure B2B marketplace built for professionals and entrepreneurs in the African diaspora. We make it safe and easy for verified businesses to find each other, collaborate, and do business together, starting with Zimbabwean businesses in South Africa, and growing to serve diaspora communities across the continent and beyond.
ShokaConnect is designed for business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals in the diaspora who want to work with other trusted, verified businesses from their community. Whether you offer construction, logistics, consulting, retail, IT services, or any other product or service, ShokaConnect helps you find reliable partners and clients who you can actually hold accountable.
We are built on trust, and we engineer it into every part of how the platform works.
Unlike general marketplaces, every business on ShokaConnect goes through a rigorous verification process. We go beyond basic registration checks; we look at a business’s track record, client history, reviews, and industry-specific compliance to make sure the businesses you deal with are exactly who they say they are.
We also protect every transaction with secure escrow payments, so your money only moves when you say it does. ShokaConnect is not just a directory. It is infrastructure for doing real business with real confidence.
Getting Started
Getting started is straightforward:
- Register with your email
- Create your Business Profile
- Submit your business documents for verification
- Once verified, set up your storefront and start connecting
Yes. Creating an account and listing your business is completely free. We only charge a fee when a transaction is successfully completed.
Yes. You can link multiple Business Profiles to a single personal account and switch between them easily at any time.
Yes. As the Business Admin, you can invite employees or partners and assign them roles (Admin, Manager, Finance, or Viewer) so the right people have the right level of access.
Trust & Safety
We take verification seriously, because trust is the foundation everything else is built on.
Every business goes through a thorough vetting process before they can transact on the platform. We review company registration documents, assess the business’s track record and client history, check reviews from previous engagements, and verify that the business meets all relevant compliance and industry standards for their sector.
This is not a checkbox exercise. We look at what the business has actually done, not just what they say they do. Only businesses that pass this process can post projects, receive payments, and engage in transactions on ShokaConnect.
Yes. All payments on ShokaConnect are processed through a licensed escrow service. Your funds are held securely and only released after milestones are approved and you are satisfied with the delivery. This applies equally to buyers and sellers; no money moves without your say-so.
We also actively monitor transactions for any suspicious activity, so the protection does not stop at the payment stage.
You can raise a dispute directly on the platform. Our team steps in to mediate fairly, using the full project record (milestones, communications, and documentation) as the basis for resolution. If escalation is needed, our escrow partner has a formal dispute resolution process that protects both parties.
The risk is significantly reduced by design. Every business on the platform is verified, payments are held in escrow until you approve delivery, and every transaction is tracked and documented.
No platform can eliminate all risk entirely, but ShokaConnect is specifically built to remove the conditions that make scams possible in the first place — anonymity, unverified identities, and unprotected payments.
How It Works
You can browse the Marketplace to explore verified businesses by industry, location, or community or post your own project and receive competitive quotes from businesses that meet your specific needs. The platform is designed to surface the right match quickly, whether you know exactly who you are looking for or you are starting from scratch.
We strongly encourage it. Using ShokaConnect’s built-in tools (milestones, messaging, escrow payments, and documentation) keeps everything transparent, tracked, and protected from start to finish. Moving a project off-platform removes those protections for both parties.
Fees & Payments
We charge a platform service fee only when a transaction is successfully completed, no monthly subscriptions, no upfront costs. The fee is tiered and depends on the project type and value, keeping it fair and proportionate regardless of your business size.
The seller (the service or product provider) pays the platform service fee. There is no fee charged to buyers for using the platform.
We support EFT, card payments, and other major payment methods through our payment partners, with more options being added over time.
Referrals & Growth
Not yet, but it is on the way. We are building a referral program that rewards businesses for growing the community, and we will be announcing the details soon. Sign up and stay tuned, you will not want to miss it.
Other Questions
No. We started with the Zimbabwean diaspora in South Africa because that is our community, our lived experience, and the place where we can build trust fastest. But ShokaConnect is open to all African diaspora businesses, and we are actively growing to include more communities across more countries. You can filter businesses by nationality and community on the platform.
Not yet. The platform is fully mobile-responsive and works seamlessly on phones and tablets. A dedicated mobile app is on the roadmap and will be announced after launch.
ShokaConnect is proudly African-owned, built by diaspora entrepreneurs, for the diaspora. Every decision we make is shaped by that accountability.