Dreams of building a home are universally shared by Africans at home and in the diaspora. However, the path to actualising these dreams often comes with obstacles in the form of outdated construction management practices and a lack of transparency in the industry.
Many Africans in the diaspora have experienced frustration and disappointment when attempting to build in their home countries, where innovation has long been overdue. Kólé is a trailblazing startup with a mission to transform the planning and management of construction projects in Africa.
Yemi Jegede and Muyiwa Oyinlola, the visionary co-founders of Kólé, met as Ph.D. students at the University of Warwick and discovered a shared passion for improving the African construction industry. They collaborated on several projects aimed at sustainable development in Africa, where they worked with stakeholders across the construction supply chain to create eco-friendly housing solutions. However, they soon realised that the traditional construction planning and management methods made it difficult to oversee construction projects effectively.
Yemi and Muyiwa were also aware that numerous Africans in the diaspora were hesitant to build in their home countries due to the fear of fraud and the absence of reliable tools to manage their projects effectively. They identified a pressing need for a solution that would enable Africans, home and abroad, to participate in construction projects confidently, regardless of their location, while ensuring transparency and accountability throughout the entire process. Driven by this, they set out to create a company that would bring about a new era in the African construction industry.
“We saw the huge gap in the market for innovative and sustainable construction solutions, and we were determined to fill that gap by leveraging technology to help Africans effortlessly oversee their construction projects, ensuring timely and cost-effective completion from anywhere across the globe,” Muyiwa said, sharing the origin of their vision.
Kólé firmly believes in the transformative power of technology to shape the African construction landscape. That is why Kólé’s construction management software is designed to streamline and optimise every stage of the construction process. Kólé empowers Africans to start building projects, overcome traditional hurdles and embrace digital transformation. From a comprehensive project scheduling assistant to precise budgeting and seamless communication, Kólé’s innovative software provides a unified platform where users can plan, execute, and deliver construction projects in Africa.
“There is immense potential for technology to transform the construction sector. And with our cutting-edge digital solution, we are changing how construction projects are executed to enable Africans at home and in the diaspora to build faster, smarter, better,” said Yemi.
At the core of Kólé’s vision lies a commitment to simplify the construction process. By replacing archaic paper-based systems with intuitive digital solutions. Kólé enables construction professionals to streamline their workflows and collaborate more effectively. The startup’s user-friendly interface eliminates the need for complex manual tasks, reducing human error and increasing overall productivity. With the Kólé app, construction project teams and owners can allocate resources efficiently, manage timelines with precision, and make data-driven decisions that optimise project outcomes.
What sets Kólé apart is its user-led product development approach. They actively engage with their users, fostering a culture of open communication where ideas thrive and practical solutions are born. By listening to and incorporating feedback from its user base, Kólé ensures that its software evolves to meet the changing needs and trends of its users. This commitment keeps them at the forefront of construction management technology, providing tailored solutions that drive industry-wide transformation.
With Kólé as a trusted partner, Africa’s construction industry is poised to unlock its full potential, ushering in a new era of growth and development.
It is safe to say that a brighter future awaits the construction industry in Africa.
