MandatesVR: Redefining Real Estate Sales in Africa Through Immersive Technology
- Mandilakhe Somdle
- Sep 22
- 2 min read
When Jeffrey Uzoka lost a property sale years ago because a client couldn’t get a clear picture of the apartment layout from static photos, he realized something was broken in how African real estate was being sold. That moment of frustration later became the spark for MandatesVR, a Lagos-based startup transforming property sales with immersive virtual reality (VR) and AI-powered visualization tools.
Bridging the Trust Gap in Real Estate
In Africa, most developers rely on pre-selling units to raise construction capital due to limited access to mortgages and financing structures. But convincing buyers, especially those in the diaspora, can be tough. Static photos and renders leave too much room for doubt. That’s where MandatesVR steps in.
By converting architectural drawings into VR tours, MandatesVR helps developers sell faster and allows buyers to confidently “walk through” a property from anywhere in the world. It’s about turning imagination into experience, and uncertainty into trust.
“When multiple developers asked if our tech could be applied to uncompleted buildings, we realized we weren’t just solving a convenience problem, we were unlocking a whole new way to pre-sell properties.” — Jeffrey Uzoka
From Bootstrapping to Ecosystem Validation
MandatesVR began with $10,000 in personal savings and an MVP built on determination. Over time, the team, including co-founders Daniel Bawa, Tunmise Ogunniyi, and Christian Ndukwe, raised $11,000 and launched pilots with developers and listing platforms.
The defining breakthrough came when the startup won its category at AfricArena, gaining validation, visibility, and AWS credits that significantly cut cloud costs as the team scaled their AI systems.
Challenges and Breakthroughs in the African Market
Introducing cutting-edge tech like VR isn’t without challenges. Educating clients and building trust remain central. But the team has already seen measurable impact: developers are closing sales faster, and diaspora buyers are finally able to invest in properties they can’t physically visit.
MandatesVR’s proudest moment? Securing their first funding round, a milestone that proved they were building something Africa truly needs.
Looking Ahead
In the next five years, Jeffrey envisions MandatesVR as the default platform for off-plan property sales across Africa. And the vision doesn’t stop at real estate: the company aims to expand its immersive tech into tourism, training, and commerce.
For 2025, MandatesVR is targeting a $200,000 raise to scale AI infrastructure, onboard the top 50 developers in Lagos, deepen integrations with property listing platforms, and expand across key African cities.
Advice for Africa’s Next Builders
Jeffrey’s message to young African entrepreneurs in real estate and proptech is simple but powerful:
“Start with the problem, not the technology. Solve real pain points like buyer trust and sales speed, and adoption will follow. And always think globally, many of your clients will be in the diaspora.”
Discover more from MandatesVR at mandatesvr.com
Explore African startup stories at africarena.com
This is an incredible innovation! MandatesVR is solving one of the biggest challenges in African real estate building trust remotely. Excited to see how this transforms off-plan property sales across the continent.
What MandatesVR is doing goes beyond visual innovation — it’s solving one of Africa’s biggest economic friction points: trust in pre-construction sales. The ability to “walk through” an unbuilt property with spatial accuracy fundamentally changes how developers raise capital and how diaspora buyers make confident decisions.
It’s also a perfect example of how context-driven innovation thrives in Africa — tackling structural gaps (like limited mortgage access) with accessible technology. I love seeing startups like MandatesVR blend AI, VR, and human psychology to build trust, speed up sales cycles, and redefine what real estate transactions can look like across the continent.
It is really inspiring to see how MandatesVR is addressing one of Africa’s biggest real estate challenges by building trust and confidence for both local and diaspora buyers.
The ability to visualise off plan projects through immersive technology is a game changer, especially for developers who rely on presales to fund construction.
I am excited to see how this innovation grows and becomes a standard in property sales on the continent.
Amazing! This directly addresses a structural problem in the African real estate market which is trust. The Vr model aligns with the real financing realities, where developers depend on pre-sales and buyers, especially abroad, demand tangible proof before committing. I believe every future forward Real Estate organisation should plug in!
This is going to be a game changer. You don't need to cancel plans and make a trip to view a property. This should be mandated for developers