We built Balanceè, a platform that makes Nigerian car repairs safer and smarter

Hey Balanceè,

What you’re building deserves a standing ovation. Just last week, I watched another mechanic scam my mom, and I told myself that I’d register as an apprentice six months before I get my first car. That’s by the way.

I saw that you’re trying to figure out how to balance the two sides of your marketplace — mechanics and drivers. I wanted to share a few thoughts based on what I’ve seen work here in Nigeria.

I’d suggest starting with one area first, instead of trying to grow across all of Lagos or Nigeria. Take Bolt, for example. Bolt isn’t in every city yet, but they take over every city they enter. They target an area, build the trust, demand and results in one place until people in the next place start begging for it.

Pick a zone. Get trusted mechanics there. Bring in drivers there. As soon as the results start speaking, there’ll be agitations for your presence in another area. Take advantage of it and open a waitlist. Something like, “After 50 signups, we’re coming to your area.” It creates anticipation and makes your presence feel earned, not imposed.

Also, when OPay started, they used real people and real-life rewards. Students earned ₦500 for bringing others on board. I mean, Nigerians will always trust someone they know over words from a billboard.

Balanceè can take that idea and do it even better. Instead of ₦500, maybe partner with local petrol stations. Offer a liter of fuel for every mechanic or driver referral. Maybe 1.5 liters when the app is actually used. Or a 20% commission if the referee ends up paying a mechanic to fix something. It creates buzz, word of mouth, and those kinds of daily conversations you’ll overhear at fuel stations, garages, car washes — all the places your users already live and move.

I also think it’s important to reward both sides. Reward mechanics for bringing their loyal customers. Reward drivers for referring mechanics. That’s how you build both ends of the trust chain. And make the app easy to use.

Group the mechanics by category — Rewire, Vulcanizer, Panel Beater, Spray Painter, Spare Parts Agent. Let people find what they need, and let those roadside guys finally have a way to feed their families with dignity. Let them build credibility with each completed job. Before long, everyone will want to be a Balanceè mechanic. They’ll chase the stars, the ratings and of course, the pride.

I’m a copywriter and funnel strategist who works with early-stage startups. If you ever want someone to look through your onboarding or help boost loyalty from the mechanic side, I’d love to support. You can reach me at copywritinah@gmail .com