Initially named Tayar, this startup was founded in 2018 by Hassan Kamel and Mohamed Gessraha. It was later rebranded and shifted its focus to AI-based solutions that support startups operating in the delivery sector. The Cairo-based startup provides a technological solution that assists companies operating in the e-commerce, retail, and delivery service sectors in better managing their last-mile delivery operations.

Since its inception, the startup has raised over $700,000 to develop its technology and accelerate its growth. Roboost's service includes order collection, route optimization, delivery agent management, and real-time monitoring of all delivery operations.

"Radical and transformational change in delivery operations has positioned us as the optimal solution for local and multinational brands that we are proud to serve with a 100% retention rate," explains Hassan Kamel. By integrating Roboost's programming interface, businesses can harness its AI capabilities to reach their full operational potential.

The AI solution provides detailed reports on each operation and evaluates the performance of delivery agents. In the case of multi-branch startups, the system allows for performance comparison across various locations. Companies can monitor operations on the web platform or mobile application which is available on iOS and Android, with AI handling all processes autonomously.

"With data collected from more than 2,200 delivery agents who have traveled more than 9 million kilometers, we are always looking for new ways to improve our clients' delivery operations and add new features," says Hassan Kamel.

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In a bid to analyze data on South African consumer behavior, tech entrepreneurs have decided to set up a custom application.

Maholla is a technological solution developed by a South African start-up. It allows users to earn bonus points on all purchases made. The start-up, based in Amsterdam and Cape Town, was founded in 2021 by Adam Reilly and Jed da Silva. Since its launch, it has raised approximately $2.1 million to support its growth, among other things.

The application is available on iOS and Android. Users create an account with their email and phone number and then begin scanning their receipts on the app. Regardless of the store where the purchases were made, users will earn bonus points which can be accumulated and exchanged for various gifts such as airtime, access to the in-app games, etc. Users earn more points when scanning receipts from the start-up's partner brands.

Data collected by Maholla is used for marketing purposes. "Data collected by more than half a million receipts on the Maholla app indicate that members of our youth are turned to wholesalers and bulk retailers to make ends meet," Adam Reilly, co-founder of Maholla, explained in a report. The app collects data on the consumption habits of South Africans, which could help its partner firms adjust their policies as needed.

At present, on Android, the App has passed 100,000 downloads and it successfully raised $1.5 million in a funding round last April. Maholla has recorded more than 8.5 million receipts, according to its data.

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To bolster access to financial services in Africa, which remains weak, fintech companies have been developing various solutions that fit the African market, and answer the needs of its people.

Two weeks ago, Syca SAS, an Ivorian tech startup launched in 2015, joined the incubation and acceleration program of Scaleway, a cloud infrastructure services provider. The startup was selected with its first module, SycaPay, which launched in 2016.

"This collaboration provides us with an excellent opportunity to accelerate our development and strengthen our position in the market. We look forward to working closely with the Scaleway team and benefiting from their expertise and resources to continue providing innovative solutions to our customers," Mouhamadou Diop, CEO of SycaPay, said.

SycaPay is a fintech solution developed by the startup. It helps companies receive payments from their customers via mobile money, QR codes, and Visa and MasterCard bank cards. The mobile app is available on both iOS and Android. 

After downloading the app, businesses must create an account providing the necessary information. Afterward, they can get payments and track their inflows and outflows from their dashboard.

For e-commerce operations, SycaPay offers an application programming interface (API) integration option. "Integrated into an e-commerce website, SycaPay allows merchants to accept mobile money payments without needing an account with every operator," as stated on the platform.

The Android version of the mobile application has been downloaded over 1,000 times. While currently available only in Ivory Coast and Senegal, the fintech company is working towards covering all UEMOA and CEMAC markets.

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The solution was launched in 2015, years before the coronavirus pandemic that gave a new impetus to the African e-commerce industry.  It aimed to give a customized and revolutionary platform to residents in its native country, Chad. 

Mossosouk is an online marketplace developed by a Chadian startup. It enables users to purchase various products. It also enables merchants to set up their virtual stores to reach more buyers. 

"Many merchants didn't understand the [power of Internet]. We had to educate them to let them know that selling online was all to their benefit," says Andreas Koumato, founder and CEO of the startup behind Mossosouk. 

The solution offers a mobile app, accessible on Android and iOS devices. Once they set up their accounts, users can access a wide range of products, including electronics, beauty, sports, and IT products, as well as special offers and promotions. Mossosouk also offers an option for tracking orders, from purchase to delivery. Delivery is handled by another department of the platform. 

Merchants can also open virtual stores on the platform. To do that, they need to visit the platform, click the “Become a seller” button and follow the prompts. The e-commerce platform will require certain information and documents to validate sellers’ accounts.

For the time being, Mossosouk claims over 250 sellers. The Android version of its mobile application has already been downloaded more than 500 times. The company has not yet raised any funds but it plans to expand outside Chad and eventually become a reference in the African e-commerce industry.  

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As Africa's ecommerce sector expands, a growing number of innovations emerges and more entrepreneurs employ various tactics to secure a spot in competitive markets.

Sharwa, an Egyptian startup's e-commerce platform, enables users to buy and sell items such as clothing, beauty products, and electronics. Founded in 2022 by Alaa Shalaby, Hassan Elshourbagi, and Mohamed Hanafy, the Cairo-based startup has since raised roughly $2 million to fuel its expansion.

"Our goal is to replicate the experience of visiting a hypermarket with family, where everyone adds items to the same cart, benefiting from the low prices that become available. Our clients appreciate our service as a weapon against inflation," remarked Sharwa CEO, Alaa Shalaby.

Downloaded over 100,000 times, the Sharwa app, available on Android, allows users to set up accounts, upload item photos, and provide descriptions to entice potential buyers. Buyers can then browse the offerings and place orders for items they desire.

Upon receiving orders, sellers are alerted and begin preparing the products for shipping. Utilizing the startup's last-mile delivery services, purchased items are directly sent to homes or offices.

The platform incorporates online payment methods, such as bank transfers and payment gateways, to ensure secure transactions within its virtual marketplace. Additionally, users can group orders to take advantage of the best deals by simply clicking the "buy with friends" button. Once completed, these orders will be delivered the next day.

Sharwa also offers a Whatsapp ordering option, where users can chat with a designated number to place and manage orders.

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In recent years, a number of fintech solutions have entered the African market. Their aim is to be alternatives for largely under-banked populations. 

Cassbana is a fintech solution developed by an Egyptian start-up. It allows small merchants to buy goods from partners and pay in small installments. 

"Cassbana is a technology solution that builds financial identities for the underserved communities in Egypt through managing their business needs and building a behavior-based scoring system, making us the future data-based financial advisory collective," the explains on its website.  

The solution has an Android app that allows users to create their accounts and access Cassbana’s services. Based on the usage data collected, the startup uses AI and machine learning to customize and improve the services offered to each merchant. 

On Playstore, the Android app has been downloaded more than 50,000 times. With the solution attracting a growing number of users, Cassbana founder Haitham Nassar wants to roll out new services to better serve users. In 2021, the startup had already raised US$1 million to support its growth. 

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His ambition has always been to contribute to financial inclusion in Africa. After his stint at the online betting and gaming company 1960bet, he embarked on an entrepreneurship journey, becoming the co-founder of two fintech companies.  

Kingsley Nwose (photo) is a Nigerian economist and entrepreneur. In August 2020, he co-founded fintech platform Joovlin with Yusuf Olalere and Lucky Mark, two fellow students he met during his time at the Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology. Through Joovlin, he provides B2B solutions helping businesses manage their stocks and boost sales. 

“We noticed that lots of people have started selling on social media – WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook. […] Over 90 percent of them do not stock any goods, they only post images of trending products and source them when orders are placed. They walk from store to store picking up the ordered items, and also manually find logistics personnel to deliver the orders. [...],” he told Disrupt Africa in September 2022.  

According to the media, “Joovlin decided to work on making this disjointed process more efficient, and early uptake has been strong.”  Meanwhile, Kingsley explains that his startup  enables “low-budget underserved retailers to sell with zero capital investment.” “We are also providing a direct-to-retailer tool for enterprises. We help them connect directly with their retailers,” he added. 

Kingsley holds a degree in database and server administration from the Indian talent development corporation NIIT Pune. In 2015, he got a Master’s in Monetary Economics from the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.  Two years later, he received an entrepreneurship certificate from Bocconi University, Italy. 

The entrepreneur also co-founded Nigerian fintech Bewla in 2017. Currently, he is a Tony Elumelu Foundation and Yali Africa business mentor. He began his professional career, in 2013, as the area manager of Nigerian gambling company 1960bet. After years as the business developer of Bewla, he joined MEST Africa as a product designer and business developer. He co-founded Joovlin after leaving MEST Africa.

In August 2022, he became one of the winners of the Seedstars Migration Entrepreneurship Prize, which rewards socially-driven businesses that “enhance the economic inclusion of migrants in the Middle East and Africa ”

Melchior Koba

Thanks to online stores, people can sell their products to more people than they could with conventional methods. Vangovango wants to capitalize on this opportunity to showcase Malagasy ancestral bracelets and jewelry.  

Vangovango is an e-commerce platform developed by Malagasy jewelry store Vangovango Gasy, founded in 2018 by Diana Chamia Anjarasao.  It allows artisans to sell ancestral Malagasy jewelry made of noble materials.

 “Vangovango Gasy was born out of the desire to showcase the Malagasy ancestral bracelet. However, the adventure led us to offer other types of jewelry (necklaces, rings, etc) besides bracelets. My initial goal was to offer a modernized Vangovango. The old style of VangoVango is fine and we do list those types on our online store but, we believed that it was necessary to offer new styles to distinguish ourselves. [...] I am lucky I know how to draw and I am also creative. I generate ideas from my life and my surroundings. Sometimes, I visit museums and attend garage sales in Latin Quarter [in Paris] to hunt for creative ideas. I also visit Maisons-Laffitte and charm sellers at the Diego Suarez market,”   indicates Diana Chamia Anjarasoa. 

The ecommerce platform showcases pictures of gold, silver, or Sapphire jewelry made by Malagasy artisans. To buy from Vangovango, users need to register on the platform. Let’s note that delivery is free for purchases worth more than €50. Also, the store’s delivery deadlines are a bit long. Depending on the geographic area, it can go from three to sixteen days. 

Buyers can pay for their order via numerous means, including Paypal or bank transfer. There is also the option to buy and pay by installments (four installments overall). In 2022, Diana Chamia was selected among the Africa Business Heroes’ top 50 heroes. 

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Although not yet popular, online shopping is gradually getting into people’s habits in Africa, thanks notably to the Covid-19 pandemic. The sector is attracting a growing volume of state investments since it is perceived as an opportunity to reach foreign markets.  

Nigeria wants to improve national e-commerce revenues to US$75 billion by 2025, up from US$13 billion currently. During a stakeholder dialogue on e-commerce and digital trade policy last weekend,  Suleman Audu, Nigerian Ministry of Industry’s Director of Commodities, indicated that the government was already making the required investments to achieve the goal. 

“The Federal Government is [...] committed to developing an e-commerce strategy in line with the Federal Government’s Post COVID-19 recovery plan, to encourage investment in the e-commerce value chain,” he said.

He also admitted that “Nigeria is yet to fully harness the inherent opportunities in the e-commerce value chain, largely due to inadequate investment, coupled with inadequate information on the opportunities in the sector and the inability of Government to provide the required enabling environment.”

By increasing e-commerce revenues, the country wants to reduce oil dependence in line with economic diversification calls from the UNECA and the World Bank. According to the UNCTAD 2020 B2C e-commerce index, Nigeria was the eighth best e-commerce market in Africa and the 94th globally. 

Muriel Edjo

E-commerce has gained momentum in Africa since the Covid-19 period. Numerous platforms have emerged to help the population buy what they need online and allow sellers to sell more. With Kwely, the focus is now on selling more local products abroad.  

Kwely is a B2B platform developed by an eponymous startup based in Senegal and the USA. The startup behind the platform was founded in 2019, by Birame N. Sock (photo). It aims to become the Alibaba of products made in Africa.  For that purpose, it raised US$1.7 million to carry out its targeted projects. 

According to Birame N. Sock, Kwely is a bridge between African producers, global consumers, and international buyers. “The goal is to be Africa's leading B2B e-commerce platform, redefining how African products are perceived and how African buyers and sellers transact with each other and the rest of the world,” she explains. 

The best way to become one of Kwely’s suppliers is to enter its incubator program Tekki, which is currently in its second cohort. The program teaches producers how to improve packaging to meet international standards and gives tips to develop a scalable and adequate international business or marketing strategy as well as create effective product storytelling to enter the targeted markets. 

Tekki helps producers create an export-ready brand while the Kwely platform offers marketing and distribution services. The products available on the platform include cosmetics, food, and home accessories.

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