As rural-urban migration continues, much of the population finds itself in urban areas, which, in most contexts, offer significantly greater opportunities with fewer social restrictions on the livelihood possibilities available to the urban poor. However, these opportunities are increasingly mediated by digital platforms and will be realised only if such platform-based urban development is tailored to the livelihood aspirations of the poor. Currently, there is a focus on place-based economic investments in the built environment that prioritise brick-and-mortar businesses. These businesses rely on sophisticated supply chains to provide and service retail activity. The benefits behind these place-based developments could be argued to accrue largely to the formal economy.