Every story starts somewhere. Ours began in a small garage in Cape Town, South Africa, with an industrial engineer named Jamie — a man who refused to settle for ordinary.
Before Tappd, Jamie’s life was built on hard work and resilience. From packing ice behind bars underage just to make a few extra rand, to working his way up into a respected engineering position, he embodied determination. Yet, even with success, something was missing. His shelves were stacked with books on science, leadership, and the deeper meaning of life — reminders that fulfillment comes not from comfort, but from contribution.
So, in a country where stability is precious and opportunities are rare, Jamie made a decision most would call reckless — he quit his job. His goal? To fix one of South Africa’s biggest challenges: Networking. Not just in the sense of internet or technology, but real, human minds to connect and create business opportunities — the kind that helps people share who they are and what they stand for.
From his garage — the same one I, Tristan, once played in years ago — Jamie began building Tappd. He invited friends to join the journey, and together they grew an idea into a movement. What started as a local project has become a global platform with one vision: to connect all people.