Entrepreneur Joy Martins is developing an app to make traveling in Africa and the Caribbean easier. The BRDRS app aims to reduce “friction points” that travelers often face in these regions. It also seeks to help visitors experience their destinations authentically.
The app will offer access to culturally relevant information, destination recommendations, and a virtual wallet for safe transactions. It will also provide an eSIM and visa assistance. Kenny Oseni, a finance and tech professional, is co-founder of the startup.
Currently, the BRDRS app is active in 10 countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, and Jamaica. Martins says building the app has been a two-year process. The app is now available on the App Store and Google Play.
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According to Martins, the app has three pillars: Detty (Africa), Mash Up (Caribbean), and BRDRS World. These pillars will provide event information, ticket purchases, and culturally-informed travel recommendations.
Martins explained that the AI incorporated into the BRDRS app is different from others. It provides safety-informed recommendations and “real-time intelligence” by integrating with live event calendars, weather patterns, and safety updates.
The app’s AI is built on a foundation of community-sourced, locally verified data. This data is used to provide recommendations on local spots, events, and businesses. Martins says the app’s AI is not a generic chatbot, but a “culturally intelligent travel companion”.
The BRDRS app also has its own city and cultural guides, curated by local ambassador networks. These guides provide insider information on destinations, including “unspoken rules” and dress codes for major local events.
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Martins says “What keeps us going? Every message from a diaspora traveler who says ‘I finally feel seen.’ Every local vendor who gets their first international customer through our platform. Every young woman who lands in Lagos and feels just a little bit safer because of what we built,” said Martins. “We’re not just building an app. We’re building what home should feel like: accessible, safe, seamless, and unapologetically ours.”
Travelers can find festivals and other events through the app.
The company is working to expand its services to more countries.