The top e-commerce startups in Africa that are worth looking out for
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A few years ago, the idea of shopping or access to products and services online was simply a concept for many in Africa. Now, e-commerce startups in Africa have emerged with online trade growing considerably and has been adopted as many people have relied on it for products and services which are not available in their own countries thanks to the increased uptake of smartphones throughout the continent.

Thanks to great funding opportunities, this has boosted even more innovators to develop e-commerce startups in Africa that meet the needs of Africans while acting as the gateway to trade with the rest of the world. According to the African tech startups funding report of 2019/2020 funding for e-commerce startups in Africa grew by a startling 85% showing an increase from 2019.

Also read: The top Fintech startups in Africa today

A list of e-commerce startups in Africa making incredible strides

Copia Global

Copia Global is a Kenyan B2C e-commerce startup founded in 2013 that directly serves customers in Kenya and 14 other African countries. It mainly targets those living in rural and peri-urban areas allowing them to access products online while eliminating the burden of going to major towns. Consumers can make purchases through the mobile app, USSD, call a customer care team; or they can visit one of the company’s agents.

It managed to secure funding of $5 million through an equity investment from the United States International Development Finance Corporation.

Brimore

Brimore is a Cairo-based social commerce platform founded in 2017 whose aim is to provide small and medium-sized manufacturers in Egypt with access to nationwide distribution through its large network of individuals. These individuals sell and recruit others to sell consumer goods within their local communities. The platform sells thousands of products including packaged foods, personal care, and household goods.

Brimore raised funding of $3.5 million in 2020 in a pre-series A round led by Algebra Ventures, with the participation of Disruptech, Vision Ventures, and existing investors 500 Startups, and Flat6Labs.

Read also: Covid-19: A blessing in disguise for e-health startups in Africa

Kasha

Kasha is a female-focused e-commerce platform launched in 2016 in Rwanda. With the main target as women, Kasha sells menstrual care products, contraceptives, pharmaceuticals and a range of beauty products, and delivers to customers confidentially. Customers can place orders for products via its website, a mobile app, SMS shortcode or phone call. It does not require a smartphone or internet connection and is focused on female empowerment and self-care.

The incredible startup managed to raise total funding of $3 million with $1 million from Finnfund, a Finnish development financier and professional impact investor for further growth. 

ExpandCart

ExpandCart is an e-commerce platform founded in 2013 in Egypt. The startup enables individuals and businesses to build online stores in Arabic and English. The startup also offers an integrated point-of-sale system for retailers to make it easy for them to manage their omnichannel presence. ExpandCart’s solutions come with branded mobile apps for merchants.

With a funding of $2.5 million led by Egyptian VC Sawari Ventures with the Agility Ventures and Graphene Ventures, it plans to reduce the gap between suppliers and merchants in the Middle East.

Homzmart

Homzmart is an e-commerce platform founded in June 2019. It connects furniture manufacturers and vendors with customers and was founded by former Jumia Egypt vice president of operations Mahmoud Ibrahim and Ibrahim Mohamed, who also formerly worked at Jumia.

The startup managed to raise $1.3 million in funding from China’s MSA Capital, the Oman Technology Fund (OTF), and Choueiri Group’s investment arm Equitrust.

Read more: Entertainment startups in Africa secured a startling $13.9 million funding in 2020

Read more: Africa Venture Capital Growth 2020: $757.29 Million raised by Startups

READ: The Legatum Center for Development & Entrepreneurship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA) launches the inaugural Legatum Foundry Fellowship for entrepreneurs in Africa.

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