CRAFTLINK

Project Overview:

CraftLink is a decentralized gig marketplace and craft-commerce platform designed to empower product-based African artisans by giving them access to trusted clients, secure payments, and visibility. It solves key issues artisans face daily — from lack of access to customers and being ghosted after payment, to the inability to showcase their work or sell products online. It also helps clients find reliable artisans and authentic handmade products, while protecting them from fraud.

Demo video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/14T02k4OPyh5A4z8QfF84HnI9P6N-bn2T/view?usp=sharing

CraftLink enables artisans to:

• Showcase their portfolio,

• Receive and accept job requests,

• Sell and deliver handcrafted products,

• Get paid securely through smart contract–based escrow.

It brings artisans into the digital economy—without requiring them to understand Web3—by abstracting wallets, enabling gasless transactions, and integrating on/off-ramp solutions.

How It Works:

1. Clients post job requests or browse handmade products.

2. Artisans respond to job offers or upload products for sale.

3. A smart contract escrow holds payment until job delivery or product confirmation.

4. After delivery, funds are released to the artisan.

5. Both parties can rate and review each other to build reputation.

CraftLink abstracts all Web3 complexity. Users sign up with just a phone number/email, and behind the scenes, a wallet is created for them. Gas fees are subsidized using paymaster infrastructure, and fiat on-ramp/off-ramp is provided to local currency via trusted providers.

Key Features:

• Escrow Payment System: Clients fund the job, artisans only get paid after delivery confirmation—this builds trust.

• Artisan Portfolios: Artisans display past jobs and handmade work to attract buyers and build credibility.

• Job Listings & Offers: Clients can post custom jobs (e.g. “Wedding Suit Needed”) or browse available artisans.

• Craft-Commerce Shop: Product-based artisans can sell crafts directly on the platform (bags, pottery, beads, etc.).

• Messaging & Reviews: Clients and artisans communicate before committing; reviews build trust over time.

• Wallet Abstraction: Users don’t need to understand wallets or gas. We use social logins, and gasless infra to onboard non-crypto natives.

• On-ramp / Off-ramp: Future integration with fiat payment providers to let users pay in local currencies or withdraw earnings.

Go-To-Market (GTM) Strategy:

• Phase 1: Validation & Waitlist Growth

  • Ongoing surveys, interviews, and waitlist signups from artisans and clients in Nigeria.

  • Build community via WhatsApp and Twitter.

  • Leverage content series like CraftTalks to spotlight real artisans and tease the product.

• Phase 2: Beta Launch (Nigeria Focus)

  • Start in urban centers like Lagos, Abuja, and Ilorin.

  • Focus on Fashion, Crafts, Leatherwork, Hair Styling, Pottery — where trust issues are highest.

  • Target digital-savvy clients and SMEs looking for custom services.

• Phase 3: Expansion

  • Extend to more countries and artisan communities across Africa.

  • Introduce subscription-based features for power users (e.g. visibility boost, analytics, premium escrow).

• Partnership Strategy

  • Collaborate with digital payment providers for cash in/out.

  • Partner with artisan cooperatives, craft expos, and creators’ collectives for onboarding.