We build software that actually works.

Technical founder-led development for businesses that need it done properly.

The Story

We started Alcra in 2019 because we were frustrated.

Frustrated watching businesses pay for software that didn't solve their actual problems. Frustrated seeing agencies promise the world then outsource to the cheapest developers. Frustrated with the gap between what clients needed and what they got.

So we built our own products to prove we could do it differently.

ZenHost came from frustration with hosting control panels—cPanel stuck in 2005, modern tools assuming everyone wants containers. We built a hybrid: familiar interface, modern capabilities. Now in testing at NivaCity, one of SADC's largest hosting platforms.

Invoicr came from seeing small businesses pay too much for invoicing software, or worse, using Excel. We built a free platform with native African payment provider integrations. Businesses across Zimbabwe use it daily.

We learned how to build products that scale, solve payment challenges, and work in real market conditions. Now we're bringing those lessons to client work.

We're not trying to be the biggest agency. We're trying to be the one that delivers properly, every time.

What Makes Us Different

Technical Founder-Led

Our technical co-founder, Simbarashee, oversees every project. This means better technical decisions in real-time, no layers between you and the people building, solutions that actually scale, and code quality you can trust. Most agencies are run by salespeople who outsource development. We're the opposite.

We've Built Products That Scale

We're not theorists talking about 'best practices.' We've built a multi-tenant SaaS platform serving hosting companies, integrated payment gateways and mobile money systems, handled user authentication, billing, and provisioning at scale, and maintained live products with real customers. When we build your software, we apply lessons from products in production.

African Market Expertise, Global Standards

We understand African markets: payment gateway integration (EcoCash, Paynow, M-Pesa, etc.), mobile money systems and reconciliation, intermittent connectivity challenges, multi-currency and regional compliance, and what actually works vs what sounds good. But we're not limited to Africa. We bring global-standard development practices to African problems, and African problem-solving to global clients.

Honest About What We Don't Know

If we're not the right team for your project, we'll tell you. If your idea won't work, we'll tell you that too. Better to know early than waste months building the wrong thing. We'd rather lose a project than deliver something that fails.

Our Approach

Strategy First

We don't start with technology. We start with your business problem. What are you trying to achieve? What happens if you don't solve this? What's the simplest solution that would work? Only then do we talk about technical solutions.

Design for Humans

We build interfaces people actually want to use. This means user research before wireframes, testing with real users not internal teams, iterating based on behaviour not opinions, and simplicity over feature bloat.

Build for Scale

We write code assuming your product will succeed. This means clean, documented, maintainable codebases, proper testing and CI/CD pipelines, architecture that handles growth, and performance optimization from day one.

Ship and Iterate

Perfect is the enemy of shipped. We launch MVPs to validate assumptions, gather real user feedback, iterate based on actual usage, and build features people need, not ones we think are clever.

Leadership Team

Simbarashe Rufetu

Co-Founder & CTO

Technical founder providing full-time oversight on all projects. Ensures architectural decisions, code quality, and successful delivery. Melvin has built and scaled multiple products serving real customer bases.

Tanaka Chikumbu

Co-Founder & CEO

Handles client engagement, business strategy, and day-to-day operations. Your main point of contact for projects. Tanaka ensures we're solving the right business problem, not just building software.

Tinotenda Mutana

CMO

Marketing strategy, brand positioning, and growth planning. Tino helps clients take their products to market successfully, combining creative and data-driven approaches.

Team Structure

Our core team of 8 includes:

3 developers (including technical founder) - full-stack, mobile, backend specialists
2 designers - brand and UX/UI expertise
2 marketing specialists - content, strategy, digital growth
2 business operations - project management, client success

Working Model

We're 100% remote-first with our base in Zimbabwe. This means we work with clients globally, African timezone for regional clients, async communication for international projects, and tools and processes built for distributed teams. Talent doesn't have borders. Neither do business problems.

Our Values

Deliver Properly

We'd rather take longer and do it right than ship fast and break things. Your reputation is on the line, not just ours.

Communicate Clearly

No technical jargon designed to confuse. No overpromising. No hiding behind 'it's complicated.' We explain things like you're smart (because you are).

Solve Problems, Not Symptoms

If you ask for a feature that won't solve your actual problem, we'll tell you. Sometimes the best code is the code you don't write.

Own Our Mistakes

When we mess up (and occasionally we will), we own it, fix it, and learn from it. No excuses, no blame-shifting.

Build for the Long Term

We're not interested in quick projects that fall apart in six months. We build relationships and software that last.

Who We Work Best With

Great Clients Are:

Clear on their business problem (even if not the technical solution)
Willing to invest in proper discovery (rushing to code usually fails)
Open to honest feedback (we'll challenge assumptions respectfully)
Committed to the process (software development requires collaboration)
Realistic about timelines (good work takes appropriate time)

We're Probably Not a Fit If You:

Need the absolute cheapest option (we're good value, not budget)
Just want someone to execute exactly what you specify
Won't invest in planning and validation
Expect miracles in unrealistic timeframes
View developers as order-takers, not problem-solvers

Our Products

While we do client work, we also build and maintain our own products. This keeps us sharp and proves we can deliver at scale.

These aren't side projects. They're proof we can build software that works.

Let's Work Together

We're selective about projects we take on. Not because we're snobs, but because we want to deliver exceptional work, and that requires good client-agency fit.

Book a 30-minute discovery call to discuss your business challenge, whether we're the right team, how we'd approach solving it, and realistic timeline and investment.

Or reach out directly:

[email protected]•+263 8644 989204