S5 Episode 11 Vetting Service Providers the Right Way

Trust is the real infrastructure in high-risk markets, and in this episode of The LowCode Podcast, we break down why security proof points must come before features. Too many founders focus on functionality while overlooking the single question their users are actually asking: “Is this safe?” When you’re building in markets where fraud is common and formal verification systems are limited, trust isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s the product.

We unpack a case study where a founder serving diaspora entrepreneurs in sub-Saharan Africa needed to combat widespread contractor fraud. Instead of just creating another directory platform, we helped her design an AI-driven trust verification system that prioritized transparent ratings, verified reviews, and direct messaging with past clients. The result was a platform built in nine weeks for $42,000 that helped users avoid costly rework and dishonest providers, with ROI turning positive by month two. The technology mattered—but the verification architecture mattered more.

The core lesson is simple: if you’re building for a high-risk or low-trust market, map your verification process before you write a single line of code. What proof points does someone need to feel secure enough to transact? What signals reduce perceived risk? In this episode, we break down how to think through those questions so you can design products that don’t just function but earn trust from day one.