Ucontex

Problem

Models are faced with working conditions no one should experience and are censored with the fear of losing critical jobs. Financial instability and indebtedness are too often the hall marks of the modelling career, due to high fees charged by modelling agencies and long hours of work without pay. Most women are having to compromise their physical and often mental health for the advancement of their modelling careers.

Solution

An online marketplace that directly connect established and budding talents/models to brands thereby eliminating middlemen in the modelling industry. On Ucontex brands can host contest for models, which may include photo/video contest, pageantry, runway, brand promotion, photography, fashion show and live video contest. 

Positive change

Millions of models globally will have a sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work. We will foster collaboration, promote creativity, build trust, ensure transparency between brands and models.

Poor working condition and financial insecurity befalls models in the fashion modelling industry. The working conditions for models are so poor that 99% of them are regarded as garbage and regularly suffer degrading and humiliating treatment at the hands of casting directors, agencies and photographers. Some are kept in waiting rooms for several hours with no food or water, others have their hair hacked off without their consent and 64% reported being asked to loose weight by their agency thereby making them underweight compromising their physical health.

20% of models are indebted to the agencies they work for; due to high fees the agencies take which covers accommodation, living expenses, travel cost, tickets amongst others. Must agencies subject them to long hours of work without pay making them borrow money increasing the cycle of debt. Models are at the risk of losing current and future jobs and labelled “hard to work with” if they speak out.

Ucontex a marketplace for online modelling.  We connect established and budding talents/models to brands thereby eliminating middlemen in the modelling industry. On Ucontex brands can host contest for models, which may include photo/video contest, pageantry, runway, brand promotion, photography, fashion show and live video contest. Winners receive prize award and can get signed for contracts and bookings by brands. Our two-way rating system would allow both the models and brands rate each other and share working experiences at the completion of any contracts. Brands, designers, photographers and stylists can as well book the right model perfect for any job at the best price possible bypassing traditional middle men.

Our platform also allows interaction between brands, models and fans. Fans can follow, comment on, vote for and share stories of their favorite brand and model/contestant. 

We serve those in the fashion modelling value chain such as fashion designers, stylists, photographers, cosmetic brands, clothing retailers, entertainment industry, advertising agencies, experienced and budding models not just in Africa but around the globe. 

We foster collaboration, promote creativity, build trust, ensure transparency between brands and models. 

Our platform brings efficiency, flexibility, innovation and technology to the old-fashioned and traditional modelling industry. Our solution save cost, time and energy when brands need to book models at last minute, more so they have the power to choose perfect talents/models.

We also provide decent work, improved working condition and guarantee financial security for models. They take control of their careers and brand have direct access to them. They have more exposure, same-day payment with lower commissions.

Models around the globe suffers’ poor working condition and financial indebtedness to the modelling agencies they work for and they can’t speak out for fear of losing their jobs. Providing an online platform and marketplace that will foster collaboration, promote creativity, build trust and ensure transparency between models, fashion brands, stylists, photographers and others in the value chain, is a logical step towards creating good job and inclusive entrepreneurship. The rights of models can be advocated for through a rating system. They also have access to living wages through contracts and bookings and ultimately achieve financial security. 

Some modelling agencies in trying to host online contest use multiple social media platforms to do that for their contestants, this could be very difficult to mange and the process of selecting winner could be time consuming. Most of the times winners of such contest don't get paid.

- Our solution is innovative as we provide a fully automated contest platform that ensures transparency.

- Leading contestants and winners are displayed in real time on leaders board.

- When winners emerge, they get paid automatically.

- Our platform gives brands and agencies the ability to book models.

- Models can rate brands and agencies.

our solution comes as a web and mobile application, uses can access our platform via mobile phones, tablet and desktop computers.

In one year we will be serving over 2 million monthly active uses

In five years our user base will be over 20 million monthly active users.

1 full time staff.

3 contractors working as software engineers developing the web and mobile application.

Nil