Afrisends, founded by Zeinabou Sidibé Koné, seeks to "open up the world" for African consumers by simplifying foreign currency payments, customs fees, and cross-border logistics.

Afrisends, a Malian e-logistics startup founded in 2021 by Zeinabou Sidibé Koné, is simplifying international shopping and delivery for African consumers and e-merchants, beginning in Mali. The platform addresses the challenge of limited access to global e-commerce platforms for African countries.

Operating without a mobile application, Afrisends connects Malian clients with "shoppers" located in Europe, the United States, and China. These shoppers purchase desired products from various e-commerce platforms and facilitate delivery through a network of logistics partners. Afrisends manages coordination, tracking, and delivery, typically within 10 days.

Users can also place orders themselves, then submit order confirmations and invoices to Afrisends, which will handle delivery to Bamako, Mali; Dakar, Senegal; or Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. Afrisends provides comprehensive support through its platform. To place an order, users log into their customer accounts, click "Add" or "Create an order" in the designated section, and follow the provided steps.

The model relies on a community-driven approach and complete process digitalization. Afrisends also offers business-to-business (B2B) solutions, particularly for Malian e-merchants seeking to export or source goods internationally.

Since its launch, Afrisends has attracted over 10,000 users and continues to expand by diversifying its services and extending its coverage areas. The startup aims to expand throughout the sub-region and become a key player in African cross-border e-commerce.

By Adoni Conrad Quenum,

Editing by Feriol Bewa