The coronavirus pandemic forced several African startups to overhaul their business model to survive. Though forceful, the overhaul was beneficial for most of them. For instance, from a simple ride-hailing app, Gozem has grown to become one of the well-known African super-apps. 

Gozem is a Togolese startup, with main offices in Togo and Singapore, founded in 2018 by Emeka Ajene, Gregory Costamagna, and Raphael Dana. Through its eponymous platform, it offers ride-hailing, e-commerce, logistics, and financial services. 

Users can access all of the services it offers, in one click, through the app available on PlayStore and AppStore. They can hail a bike, book a taxi or a 3-wheeler, order food from various restaurants or buy groceries. The services can be paid using cash, mobile money, or bank cards. Gozem also integrates a digital wallet that can be loaded using mobile money to pay for the services and orders. “What we’re trying to offer is an integrated wallet solution that is included in a suite of different services,” explains co-founder Gregory Costamagna.

From its creation to date, the startup has completed several funding rounds raising a total of US$1.7 million for its expansion in Francophone African markets, Benin, Gabon and Cameroon notably. 

In December 2021, it was claiming over 250 staff, close to 800,000 registered users, and over five million trips booked on its markets. Its ambition is to expand further in Francophone Africa by entering the Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire. 

“Where we operate on the continent is kind of what some might call second-tier African markets. But we have an opportunity and believe in the model we’re pursuing. It’s really a wide berth where there’s lesser competition, as discussed across all our verticals. While we are operating in four countries, we want to be embedded across the region over the next year,” Ajene indicates.

Adoni Conrad Quenum