South African technology startup, iDbase Software, has appointed Nigerian product executive Matthew Olugbemi to lead the global expansion of its upcoming digital platform, PointMe.

PointMe is a multi-service marketplace and business operating platform designed to connect consumers with trusted local service providers while providing small businesses with digital tools to manage and grow their operations.

The platform is scheduled to launch initially in Gauteng, South Africa, before expanding into Nigeria, other parts of West Africa and the United States, beginning with Maryland.

PointMe operates on a “Need Route Transact” model, allowing users to state what they need, where and when they need it, before being connected with suitable service providers for booking, payment and communication.

For small and medium-sized enterprises, SMMEs and artisans, the platform is designed as a Business Operating System, offering features including bookings, customer management, quotations and invoices, team management, payments, point-of-sale tools, inventory management, dashboards and an AI Copilot.

The platform also incorporates provider verification, role-based access, audit trails and privacy controls as part of its trust infrastructure, while a free entry option is expected to make the service accessible to smaller businesses.

Commenting on the appointment, Olugbemi said the initiative would focus on combining technology with practical solutions for businesses and consumers across different markets.

“PointMe is being built around a simple but powerful idea that finding and transacting with trusted local services should be easier, while businesses should have access to the digital tools they need to operate professionally and scale,” he said.

Olugbemi brings experience in building and scaling digital marketplaces and transformation products across the financial services and technology sectors.

He previously served as Product Owner on Avo by Nedbank, a bank-backed super app that brought e-commerce, services and financial products together on one platform.

Avo surpassed one million users in 2022 and later reached approximately 2.75 million registered clients.

He also held product leadership responsibilities at Gumtree South Africa, working across professional platforms covering Autos, Property, Goods and Jobs.

Gumtree reports more than six million unique users monthly and approximately 30,000 new advertisements posted daily.

His professional experience also includes consulting with PwC, where he worked as a Technical Product Owner on a digital banking transformation project in South Africa.

Beyond corporate product leadership, Olugbemi has developed a profile in technology education, mentorship and authorship.

He was named the World’s Most Influential Mentor in the 2026 ADPList100 Product category, recognising mentors who have made an impact within the global technology community.

He is also a Certified AI Transformation Leader with the United States Artificial Intelligence Institute and has contributed expert commentary and writing on artificial intelligence and small and medium-sized businesses.

Olugbemi is the author of The Product Manager’s Playbook, The Strategic Product Leader and Starting Over, which are available on Amazon and Kindle.

His work in product education also extends to an Alison diploma course, Diploma in Product Management: Agile, Analytics, and AI, which has attracted more than 2,300 learners globally.

With PointMe, iDbase Software is seeking to create a digital infrastructure that gives local businesses access to tools, intelligence, operational support and trust mechanisms traditionally associated with larger enterprises.

The company said the platform has been designed with scalability in mind, with its planned rollout expected to take it from South Africa into Nigeria, wider African markets and eventually international markets.