How do you prove you’re trustworthy and competent—especially when you’re just starting out?

In South Africa, many capable individuals—like a school leaver who’s been caring for a neighbour’s children for years, or a young intern who’s just completed a mentorship—struggle to prove they’re reliable and skilled. Without formal credentials or a strong network, how do they demonstrate they are good at what they do?

That’s where handSHakeSA comes in. We’ve built a first-of-its-kind social investment tool designed to help ordinary South Africans build and showcase their trustworthiness. With handSHakeSA, service providers—from mentees and freelancers to budding entrepreneurs—can ask a customer, mentor, or peer to record a side-by-side video testimonial that vouches for their character and work.

Even if you’ve just launched a sleek website, trust isn’t automatic. You’re one in millions claiming to offer the best. But when someone publicly stands beside you and affirms your value on video, something powerful happens. You go from being a name on a screen to a person with real proof—real trust.

This is more than a digital reference—it’s a modern evolution of the testimonial letter, created to help everyday people shine, earn opportunities, and take their place in the economy with confidence.