YOMA

What YOMA does

Yoma (formally the Youth Agency Marketplace, operated by the South African non-profit RLabs) is a digital marketplace that aggregates learning opportunities, impact tasks and employment pathways for young people, primarily in emerging markets. The platform is offered free of charge to end users and is accessible globally via yoma.world and yoma.africa in five languages. Its core product architecture comprises three tightly integrated modules: the Yoma Platform (opportunity discovery and application processing), YoID (a self-sovereign identity digital credential wallet that issues and stores portable verified credentials across organisations), and ZLTO (a digital rewards token system redeemable in an integrated marketplace for airtime, data bundles and grocery vouchers). Recommendation and matching of opportunities to youth profiles is handled by an internal algorithm; backend infrastructure runs on AWS (Ireland region) and APIs allow partner platforms to pre-fill applications and issue credentials into YoID wallets.

The business operates on a non-commercial, donor-funded model. Youth do not pay for access and no fees are charged for credentials or opportunity discovery; resources come from grants and partnerships with development organisations including UNICEF, Foundation Botnar, GIZ, Generation Unlimited, Accenture, Microsoft, SAP, Capgemini and African Union, complemented by content and distribution partners such as Jobberman, Umuzi, Atingi, LEaP!, Goodwall, WeThinkCode and Alison. Reported scale at 2025 is 1.2M+ registered users, 8,780+ opportunities offered, 849K+ YoIDs created and 587K+ verified credentials across 105 countries, with documented cases of users securing roles at international agencies including the United Nations. Anonymised, aggregated data is delivered to funders for impact reporting, representing the platform's primary data-monetisation mechanism. Future growth is being driven by the Youth4Change (Y4C) joint initiative with UNICEF, an Ambassador Programme leveraging WhatsApp/SMS referrals and ongoing geographic expansion into Southeast Asia.

Name

YOMA

Legal name

RLabs

Website

https://yoma.world

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Yoma (operated by RLabs, South Africa) is a free digital marketplace aggregating learning, impact and earning opportunities for youth across 105 countries, anchored on a self-sovereign identity credential wallet (YoID) and a digital rewards token (ZLTO), funded by donors including UNICEF and Foundation Botnar.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Skills Development and Employment Marketplace

NAICS

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (5182)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

STEM Assessment, Badging & Competition Platforms (EDAFANAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Wallet Infrastructure (SDKs, Wallet-as-a-Service) (FSADACAD)

Keywords

• Youth skills development
• Digital credentialing platform
• Youth employment marketplace
• Self-sovereign identity
• Digital rewards tokens

Headquarters

HQ city

Cape Town

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Platform Services (Free for Youth): YOMA is completely free for all youth users. The platform is funded by donors and development partners, ensuring no financial barriers prevent access to opportunities. No revenue is generated directly from youth users.
2. Partner/Donor Funding: Funded by donors and development partners including UNICEF, Foundation Botnar, and other international development organizations. The platform generates anonymized, aggregated data for impact reporting to funders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

YOMA is a digital marketplace that upskills and connects young people with opportunities to learn, earn, and make impact. It aggregates three categories of opportunities from third-party partners — learning (courses, training, certifications), impact (volunteer work, social projects, community tasks), and employment (jobs, internships, apprenticeships) — and pairs them with a self-sovereign identity credential wallet (YoID) and a digital rewards token system (ZLTO) redeemable in an integrated marketplace. The platform is free for youth users and funded by donors and development partners.

Product overview

Yoma is a digital youth agency marketplace operated by RLabs, providing a unified platform that connects young people worldwide with opportunities for skills development, employment, and community impact. The platform's core architecture consists of the Yoma Platform itself as the central marketplace, paired with YoID (Youth Identity) for verified digital credential storage using self-sovereign identity principles, and ZLTO as a digital rewards token system. Users earn ZLTO by completing learning courses, participating in impact tasks, and taking on challenges, which can then be redeemed in the Yoma Marketplace for goods and services. The Ambassador Programme extends the platform's reach through referral rewards. Youth4Change represents a broader initiative enabling scaled youth activation. The platform aggregates opportunities across three categories: learning opportunities (courses, training, certifications), impact opportunities (volunteer work, social projects, community tasks), and employment opportunities (jobs, internships, apprenticeships, freelance work). Currently active in 105 countries with 1.2 million registered users, over 8,780 opportunities offered, and more than 60 global and local partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• YoID: Digital credential wallet that enables users to store verified credentials issued by partners, prove skills and achievements, and build a portable verified portfolio
• ZLTO
• Youth4Change (Y4C)

Products and services

• Yoma Platform A digital marketplace that upskills and connects young people with opportunities for learning, earning, and making impact. Enables youth to discover jobs and training, build verified digital credentials, and earn digital rewards through partner-listed opportunities.
• YoID (Youth Identity)

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,200,000+ people registered
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• UNICEFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNICEF is a founding partner of YOMA, having organized workshops in 2019 with youth across Africa to understand challenges contributing to high youth unemployment. UNICEF co-developed the Youth Agency Marketplace concept and continues as a key strategic partner providing global reach and credibility.
• Generation UnlimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeneration Unlimited is a key strategic partner in YOMA's ecosystem, supporting the development of pathways from learning to earning for youth globally.
• RLabscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRLabs is the non-profit organization that operates YOMA. Based in South Africa, RLabs developed and maintains the YOMA platform and handles platform operations.
• AccenturemajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAccenture partners with YOMA through Umuzi to provide career development programs. Accenture contributes expertise and resources to youth skills development initiatives on the platform.
• SAPmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAP is a technology partner supporting YOMA's digital infrastructure and skills development programs for youth.
• CapgeminimajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCapgemini is a strategic partner contributing to YOMA's technology and skills development ecosystem.
• MicrosoftmajorTechnology or IntegrationMicrosoft is listed as a partner supporting YOMA's technology infrastructure and digital skills initiatives.
• GIZmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGIZ (German development agency) supports YOMA as an implementation partner providing development expertise and resources.
• UmuzimajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUmuzi provides training programs on YOMA including the LaunchPad: Skills for Work and Life course. Umuzi is a key content provider offering professional skills development.
• GoodwallmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGoodwall is a partner providing youth engagement and skills development opportunities on the YOMA platform.
• AtingimajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAtingi (digital learning platform by GIZ) provides courses on YOMA covering topics including blockchain, digital economy, AI, and agriculture.
• LEaP!majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLEaP! (by_PADAYON) provides career development programs on YOMA including the Ready, Set, Work series and Saktong skills courses for youth in the Philippines.
• Jobberman NigeriamajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJobberman Nigeria posts employment and job opportunities on YOMA, providing job listings across Nigeria for youth job seekers on the platform.
• Jobberman GhanamajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJobberman Ghana posts employment opportunities on YOMA, providing job listings across Ghana for youth job seekers.
• Africa UnionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfrica Union is a partner supporting YOMA's continental reach across African nations.
• IXOsupportingTechnology or IntegrationIXO is a technology partner supporting YOMA's infrastructure and digital identity solutions.
• ADAsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerADA (Alana Development Authority or similar) supports YOMA as a development partner.
• DIDXsupportingTechnology or IntegrationDIDX is a technology partner providing integration support for the YOMA platform.
• WeThinkCodesupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWeThinkCode provides GenAI courses for software engineers on YOMA, contributing to technology skills development.
• Young HeroessupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorYoung Heroes provides youth-focused opportunities on YOMA including transport/logistics summits and African Union training programs.
• GeoversitysupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGeoversity provides learning opportunities on YOMA including decision-making for disaster reconstruction courses.
• Alison LearningsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAlison Learning provides online courses on YOMA covering diverse topics from food safety to engineering to healthcare.
• SilulosupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSilulo provides training and technology opportunities on YOMA for youth skills development.
• DigifysupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDigify provides digital skills training opportunities on YOMA.
• EDCsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEDC (Education Development Center or similar) provides learning opportunities on YOMA.
• YESsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorYES (Youth Employment Summit or similar) provides youth employment-related opportunities on YOMA.
• WESSAsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWESSA (Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa) provides environment and sustainability-related opportunities on YOMA.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/yoma
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yoma-world

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about YOMA