ABOUT THIS PROJECT
Local Marketplace (Pty) Ltd is building a global network of free community-owned digital hubs that put power back where it belongs — in the hands of the people.
Every hub includes online stores, job portal, business directory, community forum, local driver delivery, TradeSafe payments and our AI assistant LumiLocal — all completely free for the first 90 days. After that we offer the most affordable vendor plans at just R369 per month.
Our unbreakable promise: 80% of all profits from every hub, in every country, go straight back into the communities — funding skills training, poverty relief and economic empowerment.
THE BACKGROUND
A few years ago I found myself homeless with my family after we were scammed in a fake job opportunity. We had travelled over 1,000 km from our home, only to lose everything and end up living in Wilderness at the Kaaimans Grotto with my children. It was an eye-opening and painful experience that showed me how limited the help really is for people who suddenly find themselves homeless, jobless and without direction or support.
That moment made me see the deep cracks in our economy, our communities and the systems that are supposed to help people in need. I realised the problem wasn’t just that local businesses struggle — it was that the whole system often fails the very people it should lift up.
That is where my mission was born: to build a real solution that doesn’t only help businesses, but protects and empowers the people too — a way to prevent this kind of hardship from happening to anyone else.
George Local Marketplace is already live at george.localmarketplace.store. The technology is built. Now we just need your help to launch the pilot properly.
THE PLAN
We are raising R69,300 to launch the George pilot — not for technology (that’s already done), but for the human work that turns the platform into a real movement.
Exactly where every rand goes:
- Business operational costs, team coordination & onboarding: R36,000
- Networking with George Business Chamber: R1,200
- Marketing & digital advertising: R15,000
- Printing (flyers, posters, banners, signage): R8,000
- Newspaper publications & promotions: R5,000
- Small launch event for local vendors: R4,100
TOTAL: R69,300
Once funded we will personally visit businesses, run the launch event, get the first vendors live, activate the job portal and start local deliveries. This pilot proves the model so we can roll it out to other towns, cities and countries.
YOUR REWARDS
Pledge R50 = Reward #1: Community Believer
- Small support. Big belief.
- Personalised digital Founding Sponsor Certificate (downloadable immediately)
- Your name permanently listed on the Founding Sponsors page across all Local Marketplace platforms
- Thank-you shoutout post on our official Facebook page and local community groups
Pledge R150 = Reward #2: Local Champion
- Step forward as an early believer.
- Everything in Reward #1 tier, plus:
- Personal thank-you message from the Local Marketplace team
- Your name highlighted more prominently on the sponsor page
Pledge R500 = Reward #3: Community Builder
- Help build the foundation.
- Everything from the previous tiers, plus:
- Two additional shoutout posts (one on Facebook, one in our community updates)
- Early updates on pilot progress and global expansion
Pledge R1,000 = Reward #4: Founding Business Partner
- Unlock lifetime value for your business while supporting the mission.
- Everything from the previous tiers, plus:
- Lifetime free access to the main Local Marektplace hub (full features + top featured placement for your business across the network)
- Your name/logo included in the sponsor highlights
Pledge R5,000 = Reward #5: Global Visionary Sponsor
- Join the inner circle of worldwide movement.
- Everything from the previous tiers, plus:
- Premium lifetime free access to our store (full features + top featured placement for your business across the network)
- Personalised video thank-you from the team and invitation to receive exclusive global expansion updates.
Every backer becomes a Founding Sponsor of the entire Local Marketplace movement. Your name will be permanently listed on sponsor pages across all platforms as we grow from George to the world.
Project FAQ
Who am I?
I am Emmerentia, founder of Local Marketplace PTY LTD.
A few years ago I found myself homeless with my family after we were scammed in a fake job opportunity. We had travelled over 1,000 km from our home, only to lose everything and end up living in Wilderness at the Kaaimans Grotto with my children. It was an eye-opening and painful experience that showed me how limited the help really is for people who suddenly find themselves homeless, jobless and without direction or support.
That moment made me see the deep cracks in our economy, our communities and the systems that are supposed to help people in need. I realised the problem wasn’t just that local businesses struggle — it was that the whole system often fails the very people it should lift up.
That is where my mission was born: to build a real solution that doesn’t only help businesses, but protects and empowers the people too — a way to prevent this kind of hardship from happening to anyone else.
Together with a small, passionate team I created Local Marketplace: a free, all-in-one digital ecosystem with online stores, job portal, business directory and local delivery network. Every hub carries our unbreakable promise — 80% of all profits go straight back into the communities we serve. George is where the movement begins, but our vision is global.
Where are we based?
We are based in George, Western Cape, South Africa. This is where our first pilot, George Local Marketplace, is already live. The parent company, Local Marketplace PTY LTD, is registered in South Africa and will expand from George to towns and cities across South Africa, Africa, and eventually the world.
Why Crowdfunding?
We have already built the entire platform with our own resources — the technology is ready and working. What we need now is not more code, but community power: the boots-on-the-ground work to personally onboard every local business, run a launch event, print materials, advertise locally, and turn the platform into a real movement.
Crowdfunding lets us start with the people who believe in the same vision — communities owning their own economy. Every backer becomes a Founding Sponsor, gets their name listed forever across all our platforms, and helps prove that this model works. It’s the most authentic way to launch something that truly belongs to the community.
What is the plan once 100% funding is received?
As soon as we reach R69,300 we will immediately put every rand to work on the George pilot launch:
- R36,000 for business operational costs, team coordination and personal onboarding support
- R1,200 on networking with the George Business Chamber
- R15,000 in targeted marketing and digital advertising
- R8,000 for printing flyers, posters, banners and business cards
- R5,000 for newspaper publications and local promotions
- R4,100 for a small launch event to personally welcome local vendors
Within weeks we will have dozens of businesses live, the job portal active, and the first local deliveries happening. We will track results, share transparent updates with all Founding Sponsors, and — once proven — roll out the exact same model to the next towns and countries. The 80% profits promise starts the moment the first sale is made. This pilot is the spark that lights the global movement.