The solution was launched after one of its co-founders’ employees got arrested for buying a stolen smartphone.
Badili is an online refurbished smartphone retailing platform developed by an eponymous Kenyan startup launched in 2022. It allows users to buy phones at competitive rates, that can go up to 50% down from brand-new prices.
“We are providing an alternative to people who don’t want to pay full price for a device, and I am more excited about the fact that we can help a lot of consumers buy their first smartphone,” Badili’s CEO, Rishabh Lawania, told media outlet Techcrunch in late 2022.
“One of my ex-employees in Kenya got arrested for buying a stolen phone, and it struck me that most people can’t buy pre-owned electronics here because the only option they have is the grey market, which is risky. That is when the Badili idea kicked in. I thought something needs to change,” he explained.
The solution has no mobile app yet, but users can visit its web platform to discover all the available smartphone brands and ranges, including Infinix, Apple, Samsung, Redmi, and Oppo.
Badili also allows individuals to resell their used smartphones. Its pricing algorithm makes a summary estimate of used phones’ value by considering brands and models. For thorough estimates, users have to give more details about the condition of their used phones, including the state of the screen, components, and additional accessories.
Users can also get their phones repaired on the platform. The founding startup plans to expand throughout Africa. For that purpose, the Naribo-based startup, founded in 2022, has already raised close to $3.9 million.
“We are launching in Uganda and Tanzania and have established strong partnerships with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Within the next six months, we will be expanding to a few West African markets to get our foot in the door of some of the major markets in Africa,” said Rishabh Lawania when the startup raised $2.1 million in pre-seed funding in December 2022.
Adoni Conrad Quenum
