Building Platforms in Hard Markets: How to Scale Tech That Serves the Offline Economy

​Most SaaS advice assumes your users are always online, payments are seamless, infrastructure works, and customers behave predictably.

​But if you’re building in emerging or fragmented markets, you know the reality is very different.

​Your customers might be offline. Trust is low. Distribution is messy. Access to capital is limited. And scaling is about solving real-world constraints that software alone can’t fix.

​This is where many founders get stuck: you have traction, but turning your product into a scalable platform feels harder than it should.

​In this session, you’ll learn how to build beyond software, and design platforms that actually work in the real world.

​Drawing from his experience scaling Hello Tractor across Africa, Jehiel will break down how to build technology that connects fragmented markets, unlocks supply and demand, and scales sustainably, even when the odds are stacked against you.

​This is a proven playbook for founders building in complex, underserved environments.

​By the end of this webinar, you’ll walk away with:

• ​A clear framework for building platforms (not just products) in hard markets

• ​How to design for offline users, low trust environments, and fragmented demand

• ​Lessons on creating strong unit economics in price-sensitive markets

• ​How to leverage data, partnerships, and ecosystem thinking to scale faster

• ​Real insights on turning constraints into your biggest competitive advantage

​If you’re a founder scaling toward $1M ARR and beyond, especially in Africa or similar markets, this session will change how you think about building and growing your company.