MyKuya, a mobile-based application and technology platform, founded by Machine Ventures, a Manila-Based company builder, aims to connect consumers and enterprises to service personnel on-demand.
Realizing the time-consuming challenges of getting tasks done in Metro Manila, high underemployment and unemployment rates, inconsistencies in labor quality and the lack of convenient access to service personnel and professionals led to the formation of MyKuya which tags itself as #YourHelpingHandOnDemand.
Through a mobile application available on iOS and Android and powered by a proprietary matching algorithm and technology, MyKuya instantly matches consumers and businesses in need of help to the right service personnel to fulï¬l the task.
Consumers can simply download the MyKuya application and instantly connect with nearby helping hands who can then carry out their requests. The service price starts at P49 for every 30-minute interval.
Catherine Castillo, MyKuya’s head of business development, said: “We have busy mothers who avail of our services to get additional help with tasks such as cleaning, shopping or even purchasing food. The length of tasks vary anywhere from 30 minutes to sometimes even eight hours. We have employees that count on MyKuya to outsource a lot of tasks happening at their ofï¬ces,” she said.
“This is the beginning of a journey for us to create equal opportunities and provide job opportunities to anyone who wants one. Our goal is to create 1 million job opportunities by 2022 in the Philippines,” said Shahab Shabibi, co-founder and chief executive of Machine Ventures, the company behind MyKuya.
“Learning from the ride sharing platforms like Uber, Grab and other TNVS which provided drivers an opportunity to work on-demand, we saw an even larger community of people who had even lesser means but wanted opportunities to learn, earn and grow. With the MyKuya App we have tried to build a tech-based solution, that embraces the spirit of a shared economy, building the base on values of mobility and gig economy, which we feel is the future of work and services,” Shahab said.
“We acknowledge automation and artiï¬cial intelligence threatening nearly 1.5 million jobs in the BPO sector. On the other hand, we looked at many OFWs who wish to come back but are not conï¬dent about having jobs here at home,” Shabibi said.
“We believe that all of us, together with technology can create countless opportunities to support the domestic economy. We can sustain the economic growth that we are experiencing and make it even more inclusive than before. Philippines is home to some of the greatest human capital in the world and we have the chance to uplift and upskill an entire nation,” he said.
Shahab earlier established HeyKuya, an SMS-based personal assistant service which was sold just six months after its launch, making it the Philippines fastest acquisition. Prior to that, he was among the founding team of three companies. After starting his first venture in music distribution by the age of 13, he moved into sports media by being part of the team that started Tarafdari, Iran’s leading sports social media network with more than 5 million monthly visitors.
After graduating and getting his degree in Business Administration, he joined Rocket Internet and launched the carpooling platform, Tripda in the Philippines.
In 2017, he was selected as one of Asia’s most influential entrepreneurs Under 30 by Forbes magazine.
MyKuya Enterprise Solutions now help SMEs, start-ups and large corporations utilize the capacity of MyKuya’s platform and tap into additional human capital as needed, enabling flexibility, scalability and ease of use for businesses.
Ferdinand Inlao, a pioneer MyKuya partner, said: “Even though I took many of Tesda’s training programs, I had a hard time ï¬nding a job until I saw MyKuya’s presence in my barangay neighboring Bonifacio Global City. Now I am able to work whenever I want just near my house and it is an amazing feeling to be able to help people and earn a living while doing so,” he said.
“We believe in a future where people and technology come together to solve our most pressing problems. The ates and kuyas of MyKuya, whom we refer to as MyKuya Partners are the core of this technology platform and enabling them to make a living with dignity and enjoy the fruits of their labor while being self-employed is our advocacy,” said Shabibi.
MyKuya is founded by Machine Ventures, a Manila-based company builder established by Shabibi and Farouk Meralli. It is backed by local investors who believe in inclusive and sustainable nation-building through technology and collaboration.