Waape is a Ugandan startup that aims to make hiring underrepresented African freelancers more accessible for startups and SMEs through its digital talent marketplace platform, built on diversity, equity, and inclusion principles with cutting-edge technology. The company was initially founded as a talent agency but pivoted after realizing the need to balance efforts between employers and freelancers, overcoming challenges such as running virtual training sessions during the pandemic. With over 500 users and 100 employers on its platform, Waape plans to create 100,000 job opportunities in three years and expand to cities across Africa.