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Published: 06-04-2018 16:44:00 | By: Nico Scherphuis | hits: 3540903 | Tags:



















E-commerce tech platform MarketLeap secures €2.6m to expand brands’ global reach and revenue
Published: 10-10-2023 | 12:03:00 | By: Pie Kamau
MarketLeap has secured €1.5m funding.


Vistry unveils conversational AI platform LumoChat for food commerce
Published: 09-10-2023 | 11:06:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Vistry has announced the launch of its Conversational AI platform, LumoChat.


French SaaS firm scnd raises €4m to disrupt the sales of services
Published: 06-10-2023 | 11:29:00 | By: Pie Kamau
scnd, the trailblazing French SaaS solution, announced a €4m funding round backed by 42Cap and Partech.


Canadian e-Commerce inventory platform Centro launches with $2m pre-seed funding round
Published: 05-10-2023 | 12:16:00 | By: Pie Kamau
e-Commerce inventory platform Centro, announced a $2m in pre-seed funding.


IFC invests in e-Commerce platform ANKA to support Africa’s creative Artisans
Published: 25-09-2023 | 17:29:00 | By: Pie Kamau
IFC has invested $3.4m equity investment in African e-Commerce platform ANKA.


Genus AI secures over $6m seed extension round for Generative AI in e-Commerce
Published: 25-09-2023 | 15:01:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Genus AI, a generative AI platform, has secured over $6m in a seed round extension


African fintech startup Lipa Later gets greenlight for public fundraising in US
Published: 01-09-2023 | 12:45:00 | By: Bob Koigi
Lipa Later Group is  a global trailblazing innovator recognized as one of Africa's Fastest-Growing Fintech Companies by the Financial Times that continues to reshape the finance, payments, and e-commerce landscape in Africa.


Liviri launches independent e-Grocer grant program
Published: 01-09-2023 | 11:14:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Liviri is launching its first-ever e-Grocer grant program – an initiative that will award resources to an independent grocer.


Israeli social commerce startup Terrific completes its seed round of financing
Published: 21-07-2023 | 13:07:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Israeli social commerce startup Terrific has completed its seed round of financing.


Startupbootcamp AfriTech opens cohort 4 of its ASIP accelerator program
Published: 17-07-2023 | 10:24:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Startupbootcamp AfriTech has opened applications its ASIP accelerator program.


Kenyan agritech startup Kyosk acquires KwikBasket, expands into fresh produce market
Published: 10-07-2023 | 11:09:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Kenyan agritech startup Kyosk, is expanding into the African fresh produce market.


[Column] Paul Selibas: Embedded finance in the age of e-Commerce
Published: 06-07-2023 | 14:57:00 | By: Pie Kamau
The African online e-Commerce market has grown rapidly in recent years.


Kenyan e-Health startup MYDAWA raises $20m funding from Alta Semper Capital
Published: 04-07-2023 | 13:15:00 | By: Pie Kamau
MYDAWA has received $20m capital injection from private equity investor.


Kenyan fashion e-Commerce startup ShopZetu raises pre-seed funding to fuel growth of its marketplace
Published: 29-06-2023 | 14:25:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Kenyan fashion e-Commerce startup ShopZetu has raised $1m pre-seed funding.


[Interview] Caroline Mutuku, General Manager, Glovo, Kenya
Published: 09-06-2023 | 12:40:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Caroline Mutuku is Kenya's General Manager of multi-category app Glovo.


Genetica raises $500k seed round to make cannabis shopping smarter with AI
Published: 29-05-2023 | 14:04:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Genetica, an AI cannabis retail platform, announced the close of its seed round.


Austrian SaaS startup Shopstory scores million-dollar investment to accelerate growth
Published: 25-05-2023 | 14:31:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Austrian SaaS startup Shopstory has scored another million-dollar investment.


Kenya's B2B e-Commerce startup Wasoko expands to Zambia
Published: 11-05-2023 | 14:10:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Wasoko has revealed plans to invest over $1 million in Zambia. The B2B retail and e-Commerce made this announcement while announcing its official entry into the Southern African country. 


Milan-based fintech startup Viceversa closes €10m Series A funding round to accelerate growth
Published: 10-05-2023 | 15:57:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Viceversa, the Milan-based fintech startup that introduced revenue-based financing to Italy to support the growth of digital companies, announced the closing of €10 million Series A financing round.


Forces shaping the retail landscape in 2023, ESW
Published: 28-03-2023 | 16:03:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Brands and merchants are constantly adapting to the ever-changing forces that shape the retail landscape


3 key trends in retail and brand innovation, Plug and Play
Published: 14-03-2023 | 10:58:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Brands and the retail industry are undergoing a rapid transformation. As technology and customer expectations continue to evolve, businesses must innovate to stay competitive and provide a better consumer and user experience.


[Column] David Meintjes: Unified communication and collaboration trends for 2023
Published: 03-03-2023 | 12:11:00 | By: Pie Kamau
As businesses continue evolving to meet changing customer behaviour, the uptake and investment in cloud unified communications platforms and tools will continue to soar.


Vue.ai announces new AI powered models to generate inclusive ad creatives through Meta's Creative Shop
Published: 01-03-2023 | 16:01:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Vue.ai, the retail vertical of AI startup Mad Street Den, announced its partnership with Meta to generate automated and inclusive ad creatives using AI-powered models for brands using Meta's creative services.


Indian SaaS startup Mintoak raises $20m Series A funding round to grow its product portfolio
Published: 23-02-2023 | 14:03:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Mintoak, an India-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform focused on merchant services, has raised $20 million in Series A funding round led by PayPal Ventures.


Tech startup Uspace fills the gap in web marketing missing from main street small business
Published: 13-02-2023 | 10:53:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Recent advertising by e-Commerce giants Go Daddy, Shopify, Wix and others would have the public believe that anybody can build and launch a moneymaking website with little time and effort.


South African grocery delivery startup Yebo Fresh raises 4.5m pre-Series A funding to fuel expansion
Published: 06-02-2023 | 15:15:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Yebo Fresh, a South African grocery delivery startup has raised $4.5m in a pre-series A equity funding round.


Bangladeshi B2B commerce platform ShopUp secures $30m debt financing to fuel expansion, strengthen supply chain operations
Published: 03-02-2023 | 11:40:00 | By: Pie Kamau
ShopUp, a full-stack B2B commerce platform in Bangladesh, announced it has secured $30 million in debt financing, to drive expansion efforts and strengthen the company's supply chain operations.


[Startup Interview] Don Okoth, General Manager, Sendy, Kenya
Published: 31-01-2023 | 10:55:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Don Okoth is General Manager for Kenyan Fulfillment and Logistics startup Sendy. In this interview, he talks about the current state of logistics in Kenya and beyond, including Sendy's role in shaping the industry.


Belgian SMEs management software Odoo opens local office in Australia
Published: 26-01-2023 | 09:21:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Belgian company Odoo, an all-in-one integrated business solution for Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), announced it is setting up shop in Australia. 


Food Foundry accelerator announces fifth cohort of early-stage foodservice startups
Published: 23-01-2023 | 11:42:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Food Foundry, an accelerator program built by Relish Works and Gordon Food Service for early-stage startups disrupting the food and foodservice industry, announced the five startups that will join the fifth cohort starting in January 2023.


Nigerian online furniture store Taeillo raises $2.5m for expansion
Published: 16-12-2022 | 13:17:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Nigerian online store Taeillo, announced a $2.5 million funding round from Aruwa Capital, a growth equity and early-stage investor.


Senegalese startup Kwely launches made in Africa online store
Published: 16-12-2022 | 12:38:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Kwely, a Senegalese-based startup has launched a B2B e-marketplace to provide African producers and manufacturers with a global window to sell their products at scale.


[Nebulab Case] How this e-Commerce tech studio went global to fight talent shortage and improve diversity
Published: 02-12-2022 | 11:42:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Hiring talent has become one of the top challenges for technology companies. The global talent shortage and emerging trends have made finding and retaining skilled professionals more difficult.


Netail closes $5m seed funding to advance retail-focused AI development
Published: 01-12-2022 | 10:54:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Netail, a technology that enables retailers to auto-identify competitors across the internet and track their assortments, availability and optimize prices in real time, announced the closing of $5 million in seed funding.


Berlin-based AI-powered startup Faircado raises €500K to transform E-commerce into Re-commerce
Published: 25-11-2022 | 08:23:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Faircado, a Berlin-based startup that provides the first AI-powered second-hand shopping assistance, announced it has raised €500,000 in a pre-seed round led by BackBone Ventures.


Kenyan supply chain and logistics startup Leta secures $3m pre-seed funding to accelerate growth
Published: 23-11-2022 | 09:21:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Leta, the supply chain and logistics startup driving distribution optimization, announced the close of  $3 million Pre-Seed equity round.


Swiss Web3 payment startup DePay partners with WooCommerce to bring payments to online merchants
Published: 22-11-2022 | 11:34:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Swiss Web3 payment startup DePay, announced it is joining forces with the self-hostable, open-source eCommerce plugin WooCommerce, pushing decentralization further and providing merchants with the ability to have customers send payments directly to their own wallets.


Demand for seamless, convenient way of shopping increase growth of e-Commerce in Africa
Published: 16-11-2022 | 10:14:00 | By: Pie Kamau
The electronic commerce (e-Commerce) transaction of goods and services between business-to-consumer (B2C), business-to-business (B2B), consumer-to-consumer, and consumer-to-business, has become rampant in this digital age.


Ultra-convenient healthy meals startup Proper Good closes seed funding to bring absurdly delicious products
Published: 14-11-2022 | 15:42:27 | By: Pie Kamau
PROPER GOOD, an ultra-convenient home-delivered food service company that offers nutritious prepared meals made with simple and high quality ingredients, announced the closing of $3.5 million in seed funding.


Startup Wise Guys selects the second batch of participants for Africa-dedicated fund
Published: 10-11-2022 | 13:45:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Startup Wise Guys (SWG), Europe’s startup accelerator and one of its most active investment funds, has selected the second batch of participants for its €7.5 million fund for African startup investment. 


Vue Storefront wins best e-Commerce and retail startup at The Europas Tech Startup Awards 2022
Published: 07-11-2022 | 09:08:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Vue Storefront, a technology company that develops software for businesses to create fast, modern and high-performing online storefronts, was crowned a winner at The Europas Tech Startup Awards 2022.


UK-based hospitality tech startup Journey completes £5m growth capital raise
Published: 04-11-2022 | 11:02:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Journey Hospitality has secured £5 million growth capital investment. The funds, from private equity firm Averroes Capital, will enable Journey to deliver its vision to revolutionise e-Commerce for the hospitality industry.


Vienna-based startup Orderlion raises $4m funding to scale the global B2B food supply chain
Published: 03-11-2022 | 10:26:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Vienna-based startup Orderlion announced the successful closing of $4 million in preSeries A funding, including a mix of equity and debt financing, bringing the total amount of investments raised to $7.5 million since the company’s inception.


GS1 Hong Kong unlocks the next generation of trade finance service for SMEs in China
Published: 31-10-2022 | 07:21:00 | By: Pie Kamau
GS1 Hong Kong (GS1 HK) announced it has welcomed the launch of Commercial Data Interchange (CDI) by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA).


Nigerian social commerce startup Bumpa raises $4m seed funding to build the future of commerce for African sellers
Published: 25-10-2022 | 14:07:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Nigerian social commerce startup Bumpa announced it has raised $4 million seed round led by Base10 Partners, the largest black-led fund in the world, with participation from Plug & Play Ventures.


Fintech startup Banyan raises $43m Series A to scale world's largest SKU data network
Published: 24-10-2022 | 14:10:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Banyan, the network for SKU data, announced it has raised $43 million Series A round led by Fin Capital and M13. The investment will accelerate Banyan's technology and infrastructure growth.


Logistics Startup Nuvocargo appoints Nicholas Simmons as Head of Engineering to accelerate company's growth
Published: 12-10-2022 | 13:40:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Nuvocargo has appointed former Shopify executive Nicholas Simmons as Head of Engineering to continue to develop the Nuvocargo platform and expand the company’s world-class engineering team.


Climate infrastructure startup EcoCart raises $14.5m Series A to accelerate sustainable e-Commerce
Published: 11-10-2022 | 14:39:00 | By: Pie Kamau
EcoCart, a software company building the infrastructure for e-Commerce companies to operate sustainably at scale, has raised a $14.5 million Series A round.


German startup 35up secures €5 million to cross selling platform for SMEs
Published: 06-10-2022 | 15:21:41 | By: Bob Koigi
A German startup providing cross selling platform has received five million euros financing from VC firm Capnamic and other existing investors.


New Utah startup Oops offers doorstep return pickups for in-store and online purchases
Published: 27-09-2022 | 16:16:00 | By: Pie Kamau
An early-stage startup born in the heart of Utah's Silicon Slopes, Oops is offering doorstep return pickups for in-store and online purchases across the Wasatch Range.


Vendease secures $30m to transform procurement and business operations for restaurants across Africa
Published: 26-09-2022 | 14:13:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Vendease, a Y Combinator-backed digital platform that allows restaurants in Africa to buy supplies, access financial services and power their business operations, has raised $30 million funding round.


West african fintech startup Julaya raises $5m extension round to expand its operations
Published: 26-09-2022 | 13:09:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Julaya, a fintech stratup based in Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and France, announced it has raised $5 million extension round led by European venture capital fund Speedinvest to expand its operations in West Africa.


Irish e-Commerce growth unicorn Wayflyer secures $253m debt financing from Credit Suisse
Published: 15-09-2022 | 10:44:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Wayflyer, the revenue-based financing and growth platform for e-Commerce businesses, has secured $253 milion debt financing facility from Credit Suisse.


[Startup Interview] Tesh Mbaabu, CEO, MarketForce, Kenya
Published: 12-09-2022 | 16:47:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Tesh Mbaabu is a serial entrepreneur who lives to blend commerce and technology. He is the Co-founder and CEO of Kenyan-based B2B platform for retail distribution of consumer goods and digital financial services in Africa today, MarketForce.


Austrian SaaS startup Shopstory raises €2.2m in second round funding to back e-Commerce brands
Published: 12-09-2022 | 10:58:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Austrian startup Shopstory is raising a million-dollar investment from tecnet equity, Startup300 and business angels Patrick Pöschl (Co-Founder Scalable Capital) and Hansi Hansmann in its second round of financing.


Kenyan B2B e-Commerce startup Wasoko opens innovation hub in Zanzibar
Published: 01-09-2022 | 14:27:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Wasoko (formerly Sokowatch), an African B2B e-Commerce startup that leverages technology to transform the informal retail supply chain, announced the official launch of the “Wasoko Innovation Hub” in partnership with the Zanzibar government.


FMO partners with SBC AfriTech to support next generation of early-stage African tech startups
Published: 30-08-2022 | 13:28:00 | By: Pie Kamau
FMO has partnered with a pan-African tech accelerator, Startupbootcamp (SBC) AfriTech, for the third installment of the Africa Startup Initiative Accelerator Program which is designed to scout skill and scale early-stage tech startups in Africa.


Nigerian B2B e-Commerce startup Omnibiz raises $15m for expansion
Published: 29-08-2022 | 13:35:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Nigerian B2B e-Commerce startup Omnibiz has raised $15 million pre-Series A round ($5 million equity and $10 million debt) led by Timon Capital, Ventures Platform, Lofty Inc, Chapel Hill Denham, Chandaria Capital and Musha Ventures.


Nigerian last-mile delivery startup Kwik launches in Ibadan
Published: 22-08-2022 | 11:56:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Nigerian last-mile delivery startup Kwik Delivery announced it has officially launched its innovative and just-in-time delivery solutions to merchants, entrepreneurs, businesses, government agencies and social vendors in Ibadan.


South African agritech disruptor AgriKool drives down food costs for consumers, increases profits for farmers
Published: 15-08-2022 | 12:31:00 | By: Pie Kamau
AgriKool, a South African e-trading platform, is connecting agricultural producers to buyers to facilitate the sale of products between retailers and farmers.


Kenyan mobile commerce startup Copia unveils manufacturing unit for sugar and rice production
Published: 08-08-2022 | 09:48:39 | By: Pie Kamau
Copia Global, a Kenyan-based mobile commerce platform has unveiled a new manufacturing unit to enhance its output of affordable sugar and rice to the Kenyan market.


Product search engine startup Vetted raises $15m to vet trustworthy product data for consumers
Published: 03-08-2022 | 15:27:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Vetted (formerly Lustre) announced the launch of its AI-powered product search engine, alongside a $14 million Series A investment round led by global software investor Insight Partners.


VMG Catalyst closes $400m Fund II to scale commerce venture capital space
Published: 03-08-2022 | 13:43:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Venture capital firm VMG Catalyst announced the closing of Fund II at its target of $400 million, bringing the total capital raised to $650 million across both funds.


Why you should implement cryptocurrency payments into your e-Commerce website, Remuno
Published: 18-07-2022 | 10:53:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Crypto is one of the biggest aspects of modern finance and technology. For businesses, this revenue stream could provide major boosts to sales numbers, with crypto payments giving customers more freedom while also bringing benefits.


Ukrainian and Dutch-based startup Cloudprinter.com raises €7m seed funding to grow its global print API platform
Published: 13-07-2022 | 16:05:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Cloudprinter.com, the Ukrainian and Dutch-based global print API platform raised €7 missed in a seed round led by Capital Mills.


Bodybuilding.com partners with Retail Ecommerce Ventures to accelerate growth
Published: 04-07-2022 | 14:45:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Bodybuilding.com, the online fitness store, has struck a deal to partner with Retail Ecommerce Ventures (REV), a global leader in e-Commerce with a rapidly growing roster of well-known brands, to accelerate growth.


Indian no-code mobile startup Plobal raises $8.5m to expand presence in North America
Published: 20-06-2022 | 11:26:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Plobal Apps, a no-code mobile app platform for e-commerce stores, raised $8.5 million, led by Elevation Capital and Bessemer Venture Partners.


Community-centered lifestyle startup Saysh closes $8m Series A round to scale growth
Published: 17-06-2022 | 13:37:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Saysh, the community-centered lifestyle brand co-founded by Olympian Allyson Felix and her brother and business partner Wes Felix, announced a Series A round closed at $8 million.


B2B e-Commerce and fintech startup Bazaar raises $70m to revamp the retail industry in Pakistan
Published: 13-06-2022 | 11:57:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Bazaar, Pakistan’s B2B e-Commerce and fintech platform has raised $70 million in a Series B financing led by Dragoneer Investment Group and Tiger Global Management.


Utrecht-based same day and next day delivery startup Trunkrs raises €15 million in growth capital
Published: 10-06-2022 | 13:26:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Trunkrs, specialist in same day & next day delivery for the e-Commerce sector, has successfully raised €15 million in a series B investment round. The financing round was led by Korys, the Belgian investment company of the Colruyt family.


Amsterdam-based Instant Commerce secures €2m pre-seed funding to boost its headless storefront builder
Published: 09-06-2022 | 11:51:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Amsterdam-based Instant Commerce announced it has secured €2 million pre-seed funding to boost its headless storefront builder.


Text messaging startup Prokeep raises $9m to modernize distributor communications and commerce
Published: 03-06-2022 | 13:06:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Prokeep, the communications and commerce platform built exclusively for distributors, announced the closing of $9 million seed round.


Indonesian social commerce startup Super completes $70m oversubscribed Series C round
Published: 02-06-2022 | 16:29:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Super, an Indonesian social commerce platform serving tier-2 and tier-3 cities and Indonesian rural areas, announced it completed a $70 million oversubscribed Series C round led by NEA with additional investment from Insignia Ventures Partners.


Swiss Web3 payment startup DePay brings Web3 P2P payment gateway to eligible Shopify merchants
Published: 02-06-2022 | 15:57:19 | By: Pie Kamau
Swiss Web3 payment startup DePay, announced its official integration into omnichannel commerce platform Shopify, allowing for the very first integration of a wallet-to-wallet (P2P) payment solution for eligible Shopify merchants.


AAEC and WAEMU renew partnership with additional funding of 10 million CFA
Published: 27-05-2022 | 09:45:00 | By: Bob Koigi
The support will go towards improving the performance of the Africa e-Trade Hub platform to cater for the exchange of electronic certificates of origin as well as consolidating ongoing initiatives and further support Member States in the process of simplifying procedures and formalities.


e-Commerce logistics startup Kubbo begins international expansion, starts Italy operations
Published: 23-05-2022 | 12:50:00 | By: Pie Kamau
e-Commerce logistics startup Kubbo, announced its first international move to expand its model of digitising logistics for brands and ecommerce companies. The operator has launched its activity in Italy.


Fintech startup BridgerPay raises $6m seed round for self-onboarding payment operations platform
Published: 11-05-2022 | 13:45:00 | By: Pie Kamau
BridgerPay, a Limassol, Cyprus-based payment operations platform provider, raised $6 million in seed (equity and secondary) funding, to build the world's first self-onboarding payment operations platform.


Dough Ecommerce Capital partners with Byrne Capital to scale DTC businesses online
Published: 11-05-2022 | 13:03:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Dough Ecommerce Capital and Byrne Capital Ventures announced a strategic partnership to invest in and acquire direct-to-consumer (DTC) ecommerce businesses.


Salaries for startup CEOs break records, Kruze Consulting
Published: 11-05-2022 | 11:26:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Kruze Consulting, a CPA and finance consulting company for VC-backed startups, released new data on the average salary for startup CEOs.


e-Commerce startup byrd raises $56m Series C to become Europe-wide standard for next-day delivery
Published: 10-05-2022 | 11:07:00 | By: Pie Kamau
e-Commerce fulfillment technology startup byrd has raised a Series C round of $56 million, bringing the funding raised within the last 10 months to $75 million.


Nigerian retail tech startup TradeDepot appoints Chidi Akubuiro as Managing Director for West Africa
Published: 10-05-2022 | 09:32:00 | By: Pie Kamau
TradeDepot, a B2B e-Commerce and embedded finance platform in Africa, has appointed former Coca Cola HBC and Hayat Kimya Nigeria Executive, Chidi Akubuiro as its Managing Director for West Africa.


Viva Technology, IFC announce 45 emerging African startups to compete for the 2022 AfricaTech Awards
Published: 04-05-2022 | 13:58:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Viva Technology and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), announced the top 45 startups that have been long-listed for the first edition of the AfricaTech Awards.


Glovo announces winners of its tech startup pitch competition in Kenya
Published: 03-05-2022 | 13:46:00 | By: Pie Kamau
On-demand delivery platform Glovo has announced the winners of its tech startup pitch competition in Kenya.


African B2B marketplace Kwely nabs $1m seed round to accelerate growth
Published: 29-04-2022 | 13:52:00 | By: Pie Kamau
African B2B marketplace Kwely finalized a $1 million seed funding round with a $700,000 injection of fresh capital led by WIC Capital with participation from Loftyinc Capital, Afropreneur Angels, Haskè Ventures and other angel investors.


Estonian e-Store startup Upty acquires Finnish peer Rekki, opens up seed round
Published: 26-04-2022 | 13:18:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Estonian startup Upty, the resale e-Store in the Baltic region, announced the acquisition of its Finnish peer, Rekki. In addition, Upty is planning to kick-start the fundraising in the coming months in order to pursue the Company's accelerated expansion across Europe.


Kenyan mobile commerce startup Copia appoints former Amazon Executive to its Board
Published: 07-04-2022 | 16:18:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Copia Global, a Kenyan-based mobile commerce platform has announced the appointment of former Amazon executive Jason Murray to its Board.


Kenya-focused social e-Commerce startup Elloe raises over $1m in pre-seed round
Published: 07-04-2022 | 16:09:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Elloe, a US-based social e-Commerce startup focused on Kenya and emerging markets, announced the raise of an undisclosed amount in pre-Seed funding. Investors for the round were led by Philippines’ Mad Ventures, Inc.


Colombian-based consumer and fintech startup Leal secures $10m Series A round to scale growth
Published: 01-04-2022 | 14:05:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Colombian-based consumer and fintech company Leal has raised a $10 million Series A round co-led by global internet services leader Rakuten Group – through its investment arm Rakuten Capital – and IDC Ventures global fintech investment firm.


Kenyan social commerce startup Tushop raises $3m pre-seed funding to accelerate growth
Published: 31-03-2022 | 12:41:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Tushop, a Kenyan social-commerce platform that enables group-buying of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs), announced it has raised $3 million in pre-seed funding, led by 4DX Ventures.


AI-powered video commerce startup Vyrill raises $3m seed round to accelerate growth
Published: 31-03-2022 | 11:03:00 | By: Pie Kamau
VYRILL, a startup that enables video commerce with new, innovative 'in-video' search technology, announced the closing of a $3 million seed round of funding led by Noemis Ventures and Lightship Capital.


Nigerian B2B startup Kwik closes $2m Series A round to digitize informal African trade
Published: 30-03-2022 | 10:49:00 | By: Pie Kamau
French-Nigerian B2B startup Kwik, a fast-growing provider of SaaS logistics services to social vendors and e-commerce platforms in Africa, has announced that it successfully closed its $2 million Series A round.


Israeli data integration startup Triple Whale raises $27.7m to develop default e-Commerce operating system for Shopify brands
Published: 28-03-2022 | 16:24:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Triple Whale, the all-in-one operating system for Shopify brands, announced it has raised $27.7 million in an extended Series A, the company's first announced funding round since its foundation in May 2021.


Lipa Later selects Hotpoint as new retail partner
Published: 28-03-2022 | 08:30:00 | By: Bob Koigi
Lipa Later, a payment option that allows customers to purchase commodities through affordable monthly instalments has on-boarded Hotpoint as a new retail partner. Hotpoint appliances is Kenya’s premier supplier of Home Appliances and Electronics.


Kenyan e-Commerce startup Sokowatch raises $125m, rebrands to Wasoko
Published: 17-03-2022 | 11:32:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Kenyan based B2B e-Commerce startup Sokowatch has raised a $125 million Series B equity round, the largest venture financing round ever raised for a non-fintech startup in Africa.


Product photo performance startup Bloom raises $1.1m seed round funding to bring generative AI to e-Commerce
Published: 15-03-2022 | 11:17:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Product photo performance engine Bloom announced it has raised $1.1 million at the close of its seed funding round.


Colombian startup Yuno raises $10m seed round to solve online payments in Latin America
Published: 11-03-2022 | 12:43:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Yuno, a Colombia-based startup has raised a $10 million seed round to bring to Latin American companies an easy online checkout solution that solves the pain point of managing multiple payment methods.


Canadian tech startup Calico secures $2.1m to revolutionize modern supply chains
Published: 09-03-2022 | 09:50:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Calico, the developer of the first AI-powered smart supply chain management platform, announced it has raised $2 million in seed funding. The growth financing is led by Serena Ventures following 300% growth since January 2022.


On-demand delivery platform Glovo launches pitch competition for early-stage tech startups in Kenya
Published: 03-03-2022 | 12:53:00 | By: Pie Kamau
On-demand delivery platform Glovo has launched a pitch competition targeting early-stage tech startups in Kenya that are delivering value to SMEs.


e-Commerce startup The Host Co. raises $1.85m to revolutionize short-term rental industry
Published: 03-03-2022 | 12:44:00 | By: Pie Kamau
The Host Co., the first-of-its-kind digital commerce marketplace for short-term rentals, announced an oversubscribed $1.85 million seed funding round, led by HearstLab with participation from The Artemis Fund and Untapped Capital.


Israeli logistics startup PrettyDamnQuick raises $6m seed round to expand growth in the U.S.
Published: 28-02-2022 | 13:21:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Israeli e-Commerce startup PrettyDamnQuick, the provider of checkout-to-delivery management platforms for e-Commerce businesses, announced the closing of $6 million seed investment round.


Retailtech startup Cortina raises $6m seed round to accelerate growth
Published: 28-02-2022 | 12:45:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Cortina, a revolutionary software solution that gives any retailer, from big box to mom-and-pop, the power to become a player in the fast-evolving marketplace revolution, announced it has closed $6 million in seed money.


Kenyan foodtech startup Kune starts commercial operations in Nairobi
Published: 24-02-2022 | 10:38:05 | By: Pie Kamau
Kenyan foodtech startup Kune has officially launched commercial operations with four meal hubs located in strategic locations in Nairobi.


Cross-border fintech startup Dowsure raises $20m to fuel growth of e-Commerce sellers in China
Published: 22-02-2022 | 12:07:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Shenzhen-based fintech startup Dowsure Technologies, has attracted the attention of global strategic investors, fueling the growth of millions of e-Commerce sellers from China on marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, Shopee and more.


Kenyan retail tech startup MarketForce raises $40m Series A to scale up super app for Africa’s informal merchants
Published: 22-02-2022 | 10:44:00 | By: Pie Kamau
MarketForce, the Nairobi-headquartered B2B platform for retail distribution of consumer goods and digital financial services in Africa, announced the closing of a $40 million Series A round.


African fintech Flutterwave rebrands, introduces new products and services
Published: 21-02-2022 | 14:31:00 | By: Pie Kamau
African fintech startup Flutterwave has unveiled a significant re-brand and identity during the Flutterwave 3.0, virtual event held on Friday, 18th February 2022.


[African Startup Review] Pie Kamau: Nigerian fintech Flutterwave is now Africa's highest valued Unicorn
Published: 18-02-2022 | 18:28:00 | By: Pie Kamau
As the African fintech industry continues to bloom, so does the funding. Flutterwave has now become Africa's highest valued startup after closing $250 million Series D funding, bringing the company’s valuation to over $3 billion.


German startup Cansativa closes $15m Series B to become the ‘Amazon’ of cannabis for Europe
Published: 17-02-2022 | 12:36:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Cansativa Group announced it has closed a $15 million Series B investment led by Casa Verde with participation by Argonautic Ventures and Munich-based family office Alluti.


Raydiant startup raises $30m Series B to reimagine in-store experiences for brick and mortars
Published: 17-02-2022 | 11:56:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Raydiant, the in-location experience management platform for brick-and-mortar enterprises, announced it has raised a $30 million Series B funding round led by 8VC and Atomic Ventures.


MENA's c-Commerce startup Zbooni launches in Egypt
Published: 16-02-2022 | 09:59:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Zbooni, MENA's c-Commerce (connected commerce) platform, has announced its official launch in Egypt. The rapidly scaling startup, which is backed by regional and global investors, will support the backbone of the Egyptian economy.


Fraugster partners with Dutch-based fintech startup Payaut to provide fraud prevention services to e-Commerce marketplaces
Published: 14-02-2022 | 09:45:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Fraugster, a German-Israeli payment intelligence company, has partnered with marketplace payout specialist Payaut, an Amsterdam-based fintech startup, to provide fraud prevention services to marketplaces.


[African Startup Review] Pie Kamau: Capital funding for tech startups gain momentum in 2022
Published: 11-02-2022 | 07:51:00 | By: Pie Kamau
The startup ecosystem in Africa is taking shape. A lot of technological innovations especially in the areas of fintech, e-mobility, e-commerce, healthtech, foodtech and cleantech have seen accelerated growth towards Africa’s digital transformation and innovation.


Vietnam-focused retail investing app Infina closes $6m seed funding to accelerate growth
Published: 09-02-2022 | 12:18:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Vietnam-focused retail investing app Infina, announced the closing of $6 million in seed funding from Sequoia Capital India’s Surge, Y Combinator, Saison Capital, Starling Ventures, Alpha JWC, and AppWorks.


Agribusiness e-Commerce startup Agrizon receives investment to expand operations in Latin America
Published: 08-02-2022 | 12:59:51 | By: Pie Kamau
Agrizon, a specialized cross-border e-Commerce company that connects and delivers worldwide brands of ag inputs to farmers and businesses, has received investment from Latin Leap Venture Capital Studio to expand operations in Latin America.


SaaS management startup NachoNacho raises $3m to upend the SaaS industry
Published: 02-02-2022 | 12:48:00 | By: Pie Kamau
NachoNacho, a single destination for businesses to manage, discover, and buy SaaS products, and for SaaS vendors to acquire net new paying customers, announced the close of $3 million seed round.


B2B marketplace startup Retailo raises $36m Series A funding to empower community commerce in the MENA region
Published: 01-02-2022 | 13:47:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Retailo, the B2B marketplace startup for retailers in Middle East, North Africa, and Pakistan (MENAP), has raised $36 million in its Series A investment round which was a mix of equity and venture debt.


South African delivery startup Orderin raises $4.7m pre-Series B funding for expansion
Published: 27-01-2022 | 11:02:00 | By: Pie Kamau
South African B2B delivery-as-a-service (DaaS) startup Orderin has raised $4.7 million pre-Series B funding to scale its infrastructure and improve its last-mile delivery service.


Grocery logistics startup EasyBins raises $2m late stage seed round for expansion
Published: 26-01-2022 | 12:21:00 | By: Pie Kamau
EasyBins, a company solving the grocery logistics problem for suburban markets in North America, announced $2 million late stage seed round funding to expand its geographic footprint and invest in technology and staff.


Morocco fintech startup Chari closes a bridge round to pilot BNPL services with grocery stores in Francophone Africa
Published: 21-01-2022 | 13:13:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Aiming to take a serious step towards the Fintech space, Chari has announced the closing of a bridge round led by the Saudi-based venture capital fund Khwarizmi Ventures (KV).


Kenyan mobile commerce startup Copia raises $50m to ramp up African expansion
Published: 21-01-2022 | 12:54:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Kenyan-based mobile commerce platform Copia Global raised $50 million in a Series C equity round led by Goodwell Investments.


DutchFounders launches €62m seed fund to back founders building the next wave of marketplaces in Europe
Published: 20-01-2022 | 12:21:00 | By: Pie Kamau
DutchFounders has reached the final close for its second fund, making more than €62m ($70m) available for early-stage marketplaces and so-called marketplace enablers.


Kenyan BNPL startup Lipa Later secures $12m funding to expand across Africa
Published: 13-01-2022 | 13:06:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Lipa Later, one of it’s kind buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) company operating in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Nigeria, has raised $12 million from a consortium of investors.


Irish digital food-ordering startup Flipdish raises €87m funding to transform digital consumer experience in hospitality
Published: 13-01-2022 | 12:07:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Irish digital food-ordering platform Flipdish has become the State’s fifth official home-grown tech unicorn following a new €87 million investment led by global technology company Tencent and Tiger Global.


Ivorian e-Commerce startup Afrikrea raises $6.2m pre-Series A funding, rebrands to 'ANKA'
Published: 13-01-2022 | 10:49:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Afrikrea, an Ivorian e-Commerce startup has raised $6.2 million pre-Series A funding round led by Investisseurs & Partenaires. The startup has also rebranded to 'ANKA'.


Nigerian last-mile delivery startup Kwik reaches 100,000 customers, announces over 400% GMV and revenue growth for 2021
Published: 13-01-2022 | 10:37:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Nigeria's last-mile delivery startup Kwik Delivery, trading name of Africa Delivery Technologies SAS, announced its GMV and revenue for 2021 grew by over 400% year on year.


CellPoint Digital secures $25 million investment to boost entry into new markets
Published: 06-01-2022 | 12:47:00 | By: Bob Koigi
CellPoint Digital, a global provider of digital commerce and payment solutions, has announced an equity financing round of $25M provided by Toscafund and its private equity arm, Penta Capital, to build on a series of major successes in recent years.


Alibaba announces 50 small businesses receiving $10,000 grants to catalyze entrepreneur economy
Published: 24-12-2021 | 09:16:50 | By: Bob Koigi
Alibaba.com, one of the world’s largest B2B ecommerce marketplaces and a business unit of Alibaba Group has announced the 50 entrepreneurs each receiving $10,000 grants from the first-ever Alibaba.com Grants Program.


Kenyan fintech startup Tanda inks deal with Twiga Foods to enable vendors vend its digital financial services
Published: 20-12-2021 | 14:12:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Kenya’s fintech startup Tanda announced a new partnership with Twiga Foods that will see Twiga vendors become a one-stop-shop for a variety of digital and financial services offered by Tanda.


Egyptian fintech startup Sympl raises $6 million to accelerate growth of its merchant network
Published: 10-12-2021 | 10:11:37 | By: Bob Koigi
Sympl will use the proceeds to accelerate the growth of its merchant network to serve multiple product and service categories across online and in-store merchants as well as improving the product offering to better serve the platform customers.


Kenyan-based Penda Health partners with femtech e-Commerce startup Kasha to ease contraceptive access for consumers
Published: 06-12-2021 | 15:16:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Healthcare solution provider Penda Health announced a partnership with Rwandan femtech e-Commerce startup Kasha, to enable increase access to contraceptive products via the Kasha digital platform.


Nigerian B2B e-Commerce startup TradeDepot raises $110m to extend ‘Buy-Now-Pay-Later’ services to African retailers
Published: 06-12-2021 | 14:51:00 | By: Pie Kamau
TradeDepot, the B2B e-Commerce and embedded finance platform in Africa, has raised $110 million in an equity and debt funding round to support the delivery of Buy-Now-Pay-Later services to SME retailers.


[Startup Interview] Sophie Tarif, Nina van Boxtel, Founders, BOETIEK, Netherlands
Published: 30-11-2021 | 13:57:00 | By: Bob Koigi
BOETIEK, a Dutch startup, works with local boutiques and brands to increase audiences and increase online sales. The platform offers a wide range of products and services from latest fashion trends to new online boutiques and concept stores.


Fintech startup Rapyd partners with shopping app nate to expand eCommerce reach globally
Published: 20-11-2021 | 12:05:00 | By: Bob Koigi
Rapyd seeks to serve customers with the best consumer experiences and is thrilled to partner with one of the faster growing consumer shopping apps to support its global expansion.


Retail media research startup Future Commerce announces launch of weekly podcast
Published: 20-11-2021 | 12:00:56 | By: Bob Koigi
Infinite Shelf recognizes that digital media and eCommerce tactics and strategies are no longer confined to traditional eCommerce channels and direct-to-consumer.


London-based healthcare startup Gravitiq raises $55m seed round to expand portfolio of e-Commerce healthcare brands
Published: 19-11-2021 | 11:33:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Gravitiq, the doctor-founded and led healthcare brand aggregator, announced the close of its seed funding round, raising a total of $55 million.


Indonesia's Hypefast emerges from stealth mode as the largest house of e-Commerce native brands in Southeast Asia
Published: 17-11-2021 | 12:01:14 | By: Pie Kamau
Hypefast, Southeast Asia's (SEA) largest house of e-Commerce native brands, announced it has grown its portfolio to more than 25 brands and has been achieving full profitability.


Home fashion startup Modern Matter raises $1.2m seed round to accelerate growth of its e-Commerce platform
Published: 11-11-2021 | 11:58:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Modern Matter, a design company and manufacturer of decorative and architectural hardware, raised $1.2 million in seed capital. Modern Matter collaborates with leading designers to develop exclusive hardware designs for luxury homeowners.


Digital payments startup MFS Africa raises $100 million to expand across the continent
Published: 10-11-2021 | 14:33:07 | By: Bob Koigi
MFS Africa, Africa’s digital payments network, has raised $100 million through an equity and debt financing round.


Indian full-stack agritech startup DeHaat raises $115m Series D round
Published: 03-11-2021 | 12:18:00 | By: Pie Kamau
DeHaat, the technology-based platform offering end-to-end agricultural services to farmers in India, announced it has raised $115 million in Series D funding, led by Belgium based investment firm Sofina and Lightrock India.


Four Ghanaian startups join the Catalyst Fund Inclusive Digital Commerce accelerator
Published: 02-11-2021 | 12:01:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Four startups from Ghana have joined The Catalyst Fund Inclusive Digital Commerce Accelerator, a programme that supports innovators building digital commerce solutions.


Indian e-Commerce startup LoveLocal raises $18m Pre-Series B investment round to accelerate growth
Published: 29-10-2021 | 16:33:00 | By: Pie Kamau
LoveLocal, India's hyper-local e-Commerce platform empowering local retailers, has raised $18 million in a Pre-Series B investment round.


Berlin-based on-demand delivery startup Gorillas secures close to $1b Series C funding, the largest European round in its sector to date
Published: 19-10-2021 | 08:45:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Gorillas, the European market player in instant on-demand grocery delivery, has successfully raised close to $1 billion in Series C funding round, being the largest funding of a non-listed business Europe's grocery delivery sector has seen to date.


Nigerian e-Commerce startup Sendbox raises $1.8m to digitize deliveries for African SMEs
Published: 19-10-2021 | 08:01:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Nigerian e-Commerce fulfillment startup Sendbox announced the completion of $1.8 million seed round from investors including 4DX Ventures, Enza Capital, FJLabs and Golden Palm Investments.


ShipHero opens accelerator program to support emerging e-Commerce startups
Published: 30-09-2021 | 16:50:00 | By: Pie Kamau
ShipHero, the shipping and logistics provider for over 5,000 e-commerce brands and 3PLs, announced a new accelerator program for e-Commerce startups looking to supercharge their businesses with best-in-class warehouse management software.


Unilever invites startups to partner through Positive Beauty Growth Platform
Published: 30-09-2021 | 16:19:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Unilever announced the launch of the Positive Beauty Growth Platform, a new initiative which aims to partner with scaleups and startups to drive innovation and brand growth.


Delivery startup Glovo expands its African footprints
Published: 23-09-2021 | 16:02:01 | By: Pie Kamau
Leading multi-category delivery platform Glovo recently announced the expansion of its operations in Africa, to include Ghana and Tunisia, bringing its current operations to a total of seven countries on the continent.


Healthtech startup bttn. adds PlastCareUSA to burgeoning supplier ecosystem
Published: 22-09-2021 | 14:36:00 | By: Pie Kamau
bttn., a Healthtech startup providing a B2B e-Commerce platform for purchasing medical supplies, announced an expansion to its product catalog with the addition of 93 PlastCare USA products for dental practitioners.


Workwear startup BRUNT raises $8.4m Series A funding to accelerate growth
Published: 15-09-2021 | 15:54:00 | By: Pie Kamau
BRUNT Workwear, a modern work boot and apparel brand designed for today's construction workers and tradespeople, closed an $8.4 million Series A round to accelerate its growth and meet demand as the company disrupts a $12 billion-dollar category in the US.


Foodtech startup GrubMarket acquires Bartolotta, further expands in Eastern US and Canada
Published: 07-09-2021 | 16:04:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Food technology startup GrubMarket announced it has completed the acquisition of Bartolotta, a full-service provider of fresh fruits and vegetables to customers in New England, the Mid-Atlantic and Eastern Canada.


[Startup Interview] Nicolas d'Audiffret, Co-Founder, Ankorstore
Published: 06-09-2021 | 11:29:00 | By: Bob Koigi
Ankorstore is an online B2B marketplace connecting brand and retailers, all around Europe.


Wine & spirits e-Commerce startup Speakeasy Co. raises $2m seed round to accelerate growth
Published: 02-09-2021 | 13:29:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Speakeasy Co., a technology company and e-commerce platform for the wine & spirits industry, announced a $2 million seed round led by Trog Hawley Capital LLC with participation from other notable investors.


Kenyan retail tech startup MarketForce raises $100,000 funding from Harambeans Prosperity Fund
Published: 31-08-2021 | 12:44:00 | By: Pie Kamau
The Harambeans Prosperity Fund, a donor advised investment vehicle formed through the Harambe Entrepreneur Alliance’s network of prominent families and corporations co-invested $100,000 in Y Combinator Harambean venture MarketForce.


Egyptian B2B e-commerce startup MaxAB acquires distribution platform WaystoCap
Published: 25-08-2021 | 13:05:58 | By: Bob Koigi
MaxAB, Egyptian B2B e-commerce platform that serves food and grocery retailers, has acquired WaystoCap, the Morocco-based B2B e-commerce and distribution platform that connects retailers with suppliers across Africa.


End-to-end e-Commerce startup Cart.com raises $98m Series B to deliver integrated solutions for e-Commerce brands
Published: 17-08-2021 | 13:34:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Cart.com, the end-to-end e-Commerce services provider, announced the close of a $98 million Series B round, bringing the company's total funding since its launch eight months ago to more than $140 million.


Ghanaian startup Plendify launches B2B e-Commerce marketplace
Published: 17-08-2021 | 12:29:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Ghanaian startup Plendify has launched a B2B e-Commerce marketplace to connect customers with small and large African wholesalers, manufacturers, exporters, and importers.


Full-stack delivery scale-up Merqueo raises $50m Series C to expand its grocery delivery service across Latin America
Published: 04-08-2021 | 12:20:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Merqueo, a full-stack delivery scale-up, landed a $50 million series C round led by IDC Ventures, Digital Bridge and IDB Invest. The company is the first and largest full-stack grocery delivery player in Latin America.


Fintech startup Rapyd raises $300m Series E to further enhance its service offering
Published: 04-08-2021 | 12:04:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Rapyd, a global Fintech as a Service company, announced a $300 million Series E funding round led by Target Global.


Hospitality tech startup Bbot raises $15m Series A to expand platform capabilities, improve support for restaurants
Published: 23-07-2021 | 15:57:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Bbot, a hospitality tech startup dedicated to simplifying and improving the ordering and payments process for restaurants, announced $15 million in Series A funding led by CRV.


Egyptian social e-Commerce startup Taager raises $6.4m seed round
Published: 20-07-2021 | 14:28:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Taager, an Egyptian social e-Commerce startup raised a $6.4 million seed funding round to help it scale its platform and expand across the Middle East.


unybrands startup raises $300m in growth capital to acquire and scale e-Commerce businesses
Published: 15-07-2021 | 12:30:00 | By: Pie Kamau
unybrands, an integrated platform for e-Commerce businesses looking to scale their operations on and off Amazon, announced the closing of up to $300 million in growth capital with Crayhill Capital Management.


Kenyan startup Marketforce appoints Ore Omolaja as Country Manager, Head of Business for Nigeria
Published: 14-07-2021 | 12:06:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Marketforce, the Kenyan-based B2B platform for retail distribution of consumer goods and digital financial services in Africa, announced the appointment of Ore Omolaja as the Nigeria Country Manager and Head of Business, effective 15th July 2021.


Kenyan startup MarketForce raises $2m pre-Series A to scale B2B retail marketplace, RejaReja
Published: 14-07-2021 | 12:00:00 | By: Pie Kamau
MarketForce, the Kenyan-based B2B platform for retail distribution of consumer goods and digital financial services in Africa, announced a $2 million pre-Series A round, bringing total funding to-date to $2.5 million.


FDJ announces partnership with Plug and Play Brand & Retail France
Published: 12-07-2021 | 15:29:00 | By: Pie Kamau
FDJ announced the beginning of a partnership with Plug and Play, world's open innovation platform.


Codat startup raises $40m, expands its API infrastructure for SME data
Published: 02-07-2021 | 13:11:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Codat, the technology company that enables small businesses to seamlessly share business and financial data with financial and other service providers, secures $40 million from investors, following 3x annual growth and doubling of headcount.


NYC creator economy startup Pietra raises $15m to champion creators, streamline entrepreneurship
Published: 30-06-2021 | 15:56:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Pietra, the new platform that gives Creators the tools to bring an idea for a product line or brand to life from start to finish, today announced it has raised $15 million in a Series A funding round.


Cannabis marketplace and purchasing platform MainStem named Microsoft Partner for Startups
Published: 22-06-2021 | 13:55:04 | By: Pie Kamau
MainStem, the cannabis industry's only marketplace and combined integrated purchasing platform, announced it has been selected as a Microsoft Partner for Startups.


Predictive Kids' e-Commerce startup Ten Little raises $5m to disrupt children's marketplace with personalized guidance
Published: 18-06-2021 | 13:02:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Ten Little, the predictive e-Commerce platform helping parents navigate the cluttered kids product space, announced the close of its $5 million seed round led by Kindred Ventures.


MarketForce acquires Digiduka startup to consolidate distribution of consumer goods with digital financial services in Africa
Published: 18-06-2021 | 12:08:43 | By: Pie Kamau
MarketForce, the end-to-end retail distribution platform for consumer brands in Africa, announced the strategic acquisition of Digiduka, a startup on a mission to bring informal retailers in Africa into the digital economy.


Brazilian logtech startup Uello concludes $4m Series A investment deal led by the Btomorrow Ventures
Published: 17-06-2021 | 12:44:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Uello, a Brazilian logtech startup that uses technology and a collaborative network to provide express freight services with superior experience, concluded its Series A investment deal with an investment injection of $4 million.


SaaS startup Synder raises $2m in late seed round to revolutionize accounting for e-Commerce
Published: 16-06-2021 | 10:58:00 | By: Pie Kamau
TMT investments venture fund invested $2 million as a lead investor in a late seed round into Synder, an easy accounting solution for e-Commerce businesses.


Floral tech startup Something Borrowed Blooms raises $1.5m Series A funding to accelerate growth
Published: 11-06-2021 | 15:01:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Something Borrowed Blooms, the pioneer of the silk wedding flower revolution, announced a $1.5 million Series A funding round led by Callais Capital. This investment brings the total raise by the company to just over $2 million since 2015.


Rapyd launches venture arm to propel digital commerce and payment innovation globally
Published: 03-06-2021 | 12:56:18 | By: Pie Kamau
Rapyd, a global Fintech-as-a-Service company, announced today the launch of Rapyd Ventures, its new venture arm that will focus on investing in early and growth stage businesses that are delivering the next wave of financial services innovation.


Healthcare fintech startup Green Feather secures $1.5m in seed round
Published: 02-06-2021 | 16:51:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Green Feather, an Atlanta-based healthcare fintech company, announced a seed capital raise of $1.5 million. The capital will bolster customer acquisition and engineering resources for Feather Pay, Green Feather's next-generation patient payments platform.


Plug and Play Canada selects 12 startups to participate in Toronto Supply Chain and Logistics Program
Published: 18-05-2021 | 13:24:26 | By: Pie Kamau
Plug and Play Canada announced the selection of 12 startups into the first batch of the Toronto Supply Chain & Logistics Program.


Consumer warranty startup Upsie secures $18.2m Series A round to accelerate growth
Published: 14-05-2021 | 11:34:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Upsie, a consumer-centric platform for purchasing product warranties, announced it has raised a $18.2 million fundraising round led by True Ventures.


On-demand delivery management startup Cartwheel raises $1m seed round to accelerate growth
Published: 13-05-2021 | 12:54:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Cartwheel, an on-demand delivery management platform for restaurants and retailers, announced it has raised a $1 million seed round led by TenOneTen Ventures with participation from Act One Ventures and Portillo's Hot Dogs,


Foodtech startup GrubMarket acquires Vaccaro & Sons to expand to St. Louis, Missouri
Published: 05-05-2021 | 13:24:00 | By: Pie Kamau
San Francisco-based food technology startup GrubMarket announced it has completed the acquisition of Vaccaro & Sons in St. Louis, Missouri.


Mastercard invests in Rwandan femtech e-Commerce startup Kasha Global
Published: 04-05-2021 | 12:47:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Mastercard announced a new investment in Rwandan female-focused e-Commerce platform Kasha Global, to continue shared efforts to ensure women across emerging markets have essential access to health.


Subscription Management startup Chargebee raises $125m Series G funding to accelerate global shift to subscriptions
Published: 21-04-2021 | 12:09:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Chargebee, the subscription billing and revenue management platform, announced a fresh round of $125 million in series G funding, co-led by new investor Sapphire Ventures and existing investors Tiger Global and Insight Venture Partners.


Nigerian last-mile delivery startup Kwik Delivery releases Prestashop plugin
Published: 20-04-2021 | 10:50:00 | By: Pie Kamau
After the release of its plugins for Shopify and Magento, Kwik Delivery has released its plugin for Prestashop.


Twenty-two startups join second cohort of UNICEF StartUp Lab in Ghana
Published: 20-04-2021 | 10:41:00 | By: Pie Kamau
UNICEF announced the launch of the 2021 cohort of the UNICEF StartUp Lab, a co-creation space and accelerator, that engages young startups in the development of innovative, open-source, market-driven products and solutions.


Kenyan logistics startup Amitruck and Sky.Garden announce last mile goods pick-up and deliveries partnership
Published: 20-04-2021 | 09:44:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Logistics platform Amitruck and e-Commerce platform Sky.Garden have partnered to form an end-to-end digital chain for goods pick-up and deliveries to the last mile.


Berkeley-based incubator Batchery announces new cohort of startups, "Batch 12"
Published: 12-04-2021 | 14:07:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Eleven early-stage startups have joined the Batchery's three-month Deep Dive program for entrepreneurs. The program focuses on helping startups get over their first set of growth hurdles.


[Interview] Esinam Yevu, Co-Founder, PayBox, Ghana
Published: 26-03-2021 | 12:52:09 | By: Bob Koigi
Esinam Yevu is Co-Founder and Communications Lead at Ghanaian fintech startup, PayBox


ASIP Accelerator Program open for applications from disruptive startups in Africa
Published: 26-03-2021 | 11:00:00 | By: Pie Kamau
To develop the potential of startups driving the internet economy, Telecel Group has opened applications for the ASIP Accelerator Program powered by Startupbootcamp AfriTech.


Snap acquires tech startup Fit Analytics
Published: 23-03-2021 | 14:20:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Snapchat's parent company Snap has acquired Fit Analytics, a technology startup that has built technology to help shoppers pick the right-sized clothing and footwear when they shop online.


Kenyan startup Ajua, MTN Nigeria launch Customer Management mobile app for SMEs
Published: 15-03-2021 | 16:01:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Kenyan based startup Ajua has partnered with MTN Nigeria to launch EnGauge, a digital e-Commerce customer engagement management mobile app to support SMEs.


Nigerian startup Kwik Delivery officially launches its just-in-time delivery service in Abuja
Published: 15-03-2021 | 15:25:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Nigerian startup Kwik Delivery announced it officially made available its breakthrough, just-in time delivery service to businesses, government agencies and merchants in Abuja.


IFC invests in Savannah Fund to support Africa’s tech startups funding growth
Published: 11-03-2021 | 12:23:00 | By: Pie Kamau
IFC announced an investment in the Savannah Fund, a technology seed fund in Africa, to increase lending to startups across sub-Saharan Africa with a focus on supporting women entrepreneurs and disruptive companies in high-growth sectors.


Digital payments startup AeroPay raises over $5 m venture round
Published: 08-03-2021 | 15:39:00 | By: Pie Kamau
AeroPay, a Chicago-based digital payments platform powering bank transfer payments for businesses, announced the closing of a $5+ million Venture Round led by Chicago Ventures, a firm that leads investments in early-stage startups.


Text message marketing startup Postscript raises $35m to fuel the future of customer communication via SMS
Published: 04-03-2021 | 12:10:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Postscript, the text message marketing platform for Shopify stores, announced a new round of Series B funding of $35 million led by Greylock, with participation from YC Continuity Fund, OpenView, and others


Interlace Ventures adds new venture partners to expand strategic investments in tech-enabled commerce
Published: 03-03-2021 | 09:39:48 | By: Pie Kamau
Interlace Ventures announced it has expanded its team with two commerce technology luminaries. Vibhu Norby and Sydney Werber will join as venture partners while retaining their respective roles at b8ta and Avise.


Silicon Road Ventures announces $31m close of fund
Published: 02-03-2021 | 15:58:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Silicon Road Ventures today announced the close of its $31 million fund focused on commerce tech. Silicon Road invests in US-based technology startups ranging from seed to series A across e-commerce, retail and CPG.


Nigerian startup Kwik Delivery expands its delivery service to 4-wheels vehicles
Published: 02-03-2021 | 15:28:39 | By: Pie Kamau
Kwik Delivery has announced today that it is expanding its app-based breakthrough delivery service to 4-wheels delivery vehicles.


Union Bank of Nigeria to support startups through UnionX Innovation Challenge
Published: 26-02-2021 | 15:09:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Union Bank, one of Nigeria’s foremost financial institutions, has unveiled the 2021 UnionX Innovation Challenge, as part of efforts to support young startups and boost innovation in the startup ecosystem.


Horizon Technology Finance provides $9m venture loan facility to Primary
Published: 26-02-2021 | 11:52:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Horizon Technology Finance Corporation, a specialty finance company announced it has provided a $9 million venture loan facility to Primary Kids (Primary), of which $6 million has been initially funded.


Early-stage investor DFS Lab announces fintech and digital economy design sprint for startups in Egypt
Published: 25-02-2021 | 09:09:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Early-stage investor DFS Lab announced it will facilitate a virtual design sprint in March 2021 for fintech startups in Egypt. The sprint is hosted by the Central Bank of Egypt, in collaboration with the Financial Regulatory Authority.


Emotive startup raises $50m Series B funding to accelerates growth of its conversational text message platform
Published: 25-02-2021 | 08:46:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Emotive, the first and only conversational text message platform for eCommerce brands, announced the closing of a Series B funding round of $50 million led by CRV, bringing the company's valuation to $400 million.


Software startup FloorFound raises raises $4m to turn oversized goods returns into resale profit
Published: 24-02-2021 | 12:27:00 | By: Pie Kamau
FloorFound, a software platform that facilitates returns and resales of oversized products for eCommerce retailers, closed a $4 million seed round led by LiveOak Venture Partners.


Cloud infrastructure startup Pipe17 raises $8m to help high-growth e-Commerce merchants close demand and operations gap
Published: 23-02-2021 | 08:06:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Pipe17, the connected infrastructure company for e-commerce, announced the closing of an $8 million round of funding led by GLP Capital Partners, the U.S.-based investment arm of GLP.


DFC invests $1m in femtech e-commerce startup Kasha Global to support women’s health in East Africa
Published: 18-02-2021 | 13:50:00 | By: Pie Kamau
The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), disbursed a $1 million equity investment in Kasha Global, an e-commerce company that provides women’s health and personal care products to customers in Rwanda and Kenya.


Livestream commerce startup talkshoplive raises a $3m to further scale its network
Published: 18-02-2021 | 11:19:00 | By: Pie Kamau
talkshoplive (TSL), a Los Angeles-based livestream commerce company, announced it has closed a $3 million seed round of financing led by Spero Ventures LLC, to further scale the livestream network.


January sees record number of investments in Israeli startups despite the pandemic, SNC reports
Published: 16-02-2021 | 10:01:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Analysis by Israeli NGO Start-Up Nation Central (SNC), has revealed that January 2021 saw record investments in Israel during a single month. Six startups raised more than $100 million each (mega rounds) during the month, totaling 73% of the total.


Venture philanthropy platform Sparo joins Microsoft for Startups program
Published: 10-02-2021 | 11:51:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Maryland-based early-stage company Sparo has joined the Microsoft for Startups program to scale its trademarked Purchase with a Purpose platform on Microsoft Azure.


Canadian tech startup Vegano disrupts meal-kit delivery services market
Published: 29-01-2021 | 14:47:42 | By: Pie Kamau
Vegano, Canada's first plant-based meal-kit delivery service, is helping Canadians take plant-based living beyond Veganuary. Following its official launch on January 4, 2021, Vegano has delivered over 800 meals.


e-commerce startup Sturish raises $3.2m to build AI based growth platform for SMBs
Published: 28-01-2021 | 12:24:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Sturish, an AI driven e-commerce growth platform that establishes and grows online businesses across multiple channels and global markets, closed a $3.2 million seed funding round to hire additional talent and build out its technology platform.


Investcorp acquires SaaS based e-commerce solutions provider Unilog
Published: 20-01-2021 | 12:38:04 | By: Bob Koigi
Investcorp has announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Unilog, a Software as a Service (SaaS) based e-commerce solutions provider to small and medium businesses based in the United States.


Indian food and grocery e-commerce startup Jumbotail secures $14.2m Series B3 funding from VII Ventures
Published: 18-01-2021 | 16:44:00 | By: Pie Kamau
India's food and grocery e-commerce and new retail platform Jumbotail secured a $14.2 million Series B3 funding from VII Ventures (Seven Ventures).


India's Z3Partners announces first close of Tech & Digital Fund, invests in Cyfirma and DealShare startups
Published: 12-01-2021 | 10:36:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Z3Partners Tech Fund announced its First Close of $14 million and its investments in Cyfirma, a Cyber Threat Intelligence Software startup and DealShare, a Social Commerce-led online grocery startup.


Fashion tech startup uSizy helps UK retailers brace for record sales of £28 billion this Christmas
Published: 22-12-2020 | 12:23:00 | By: Pie Kamau
In the wake of recent retail closures across the UK, fashion technology startups are delivering much-needed innovation to help merchants maximise online sales and optimise unprecedented digital demand this Christmas.


HexGn, AFRIEF launch startup program to accelerate African youth careers
Published: 15-12-2020 | 08:59:00 | By: Pie Kamau
HexGn, a consulting firm known for fast-tracking entrepreneurship and upcoming technologies globally, has joined hands with the Africa Islamic Economic Foundation (AFRIEF), to launch its flagship startup program, HexGn Startup Explore, in Africa.


Plant-based activewear startup TVAAG launches on Kickstarter
Published: 02-12-2020 | 15:03:49 | By: Pie Kamau
Plant-based activewear startup TVAAG announced its launch on on Kickstarter. Founded in P.E.I in 2020, TVAAG uses a combination of Indian traditional textile manufacturing principles and modern fabric technology in sustainable fashion.


Pet supply startup Petpal raises capital via equity crowdfunding to expand e-Commerce operations in India
Published: 01-12-2020 | 12:29:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Pet supply startup Petpal has developed a one-stop platform for pet owners to get the food, medicine, and accessories they need to keep their pets happy and healthy.


Innovative startup Sell&Buy USA launches online marketplace exclusively for American-made products
Published: 01-12-2020 | 12:10:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Innovative startup Sell&Buy USA has launched an online marketplace exclusively for American-made products, co-founded by tech entrepreneurs Kiché Rubalcava and Mariam Bulin-Diarra.


Food & beverage e-commerce startup Feast & Fettle raises $1.2m to expand into Massachusetts and Connecticut
Published: 24-11-2020 | 13:10:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Feast & Fettle, a premium, fully-prepared meal delivery service based out of Rhode Island, announced the closing of a $1.2 million Seed round led by Salem Capital Management.


African fintech startup Chipper Cash raises $30m backed by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos
Published: 23-11-2020 | 15:02:00 | By: Pie Kamau
African fintech startup Chipper Cash has secured a $30 million Series B funding round led by Ribbit Capital with participation of Bezos Expeditions, the personal venture capital fund of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.


Kwik Delivery startup partners with Total on e-commerce fulfilment and delivery service in Nigeria
Published: 23-11-2020 | 07:44:26 | By: Pie Kamau
Nigerian e-commerce startup Kwik Delivery has partnered with Total Nigeria, to develop an e-commerce fulfilment and delivery service in Nigeria.


Ibnsina Pharma acquires 75% stake in Egyptian health and beauty products startup 3elagi
Published: 18-11-2020 | 10:25:12 | By: Pie Kamau
Ibnsina Pharma signed an agreement to acquire 75% stake in Egyptian health and beauty products startup 3elagi Tech, a platform that links pharmacies with patients to order medicines and cosmetics online.


Mastercard co-innovates with 10 new fintechs to reshape the future of commerce
Published: 10-11-2020 | 07:30:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Mastercard has welcomed 10 fintechs from around the world to participate in its startup engagement program, Start Path, to scale the future of commerce.


Swedish fintech startup Payer launches beta test program to revolutionize customer registration in B2B e-commerce
Published: 09-11-2020 | 14:51:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Financial Services startup Payer has developed a new registration product that revolutionizes how customer relationships are made between companies online.


Shift4 Payments acquires 3dcart ecommerce platform
Published: 07-11-2020 | 13:12:46 | By: Bob Koigi
Shift4 Payments, a provider of payment processing and technology solutions, has announced the acquisition of 3dcart, an ecommerce platform serving over 14,000 businesses.


Kenyan agritech startup Farmers Pride raises $220k funding from Gray Matters Capital’s coLABS
Published: 06-11-2020 | 13:15:00 | By: Pie Kamau
US-based impact investor Gray Matters Capital announced its funding in Kenya's agritech startup Farmers Pride, a one stop e-commerce platform that connects village level farmers to quality inputs, services and information.


Paxful partners with African fintech startup Uhuru Wallet to ease money transfers
Published: 04-11-2020 | 11:49:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Crypto marketplace Paxful announced it is adding Uhuru Wallet as a payment method to its platform, to help provide easy access to the crypto economy for users in Southern Africa.


Fintech startup ORSNN launches whole-loan trading platform to beta
Published: 02-11-2020 | 15:33:00 | By: Pie Kamau
ORSNN, a fintech startup that builds end-to-end solutions for managing and trading loan portfolios, launched a private beta platform that provides financial institutions with a low-cost, transparent, and automated loan-trading system.


Nestlé USA acquires food delivery startup Freshly
Published: 02-11-2020 | 15:11:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Nestlé announced it has acquired food delivery startup Freshly, fresh-prepared meal delivery services in the U.S. The deal values Freshly at $950 million, with potential earnouts up to $550 million contingent to the successful growth of the business.


Swedfund invests in femtech e-commerce startup Kasha Global to support women’s health in East Africa
Published: 30-10-2020 | 08:28:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Swedfund, the Swedish Development finance institution, announced its investment in Kasha Global, a Femtech e-commerce platform with subsidiaries in Rwanda and Kenya, to support women’s health and self-care.


Luxury e-commerce startup ShopWorn enters Asia with Hong Kong satellite
Published: 28-10-2020 | 13:23:53 | By: Pie Kamau
ShopWorn, e-commerce destination for well-priced, guaranteed authentic luxury brands opened a Hong Kong satellite location to directly service APAC countries, with an initial focus on the Greater China area.


Washington-based startup Fabric launches headless commerce platform with $9.5m seed funding to grow D2C, B2B brands
Published: 21-10-2020 | 12:08:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Fabric, headless commerce platform purpose-built for growth launched its cloud-native experience and commerce product suite and announced $9.5 million in seed funding led by Redpoint Ventures, with participation from Sierra Ventures and Expa.


Stripe acquires Nigeria's fintech startup Paystack to accelerate online commerce across Africa
Published: 16-10-2020 | 08:58:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Stripe has entered into an agreement to acquire Paystack, a fintech startup based in Lagos, to make it easy for organizations of all sizes to collect payments from around the world, and help increase Africa’s online GDP.


Egyptian last-mile delivery startup dreevo launches operations with pre-seed funding from EF Logistics
Published: 14-10-2020 | 16:11:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Egyptian last-mile delivery focused startup dreevo raised a six figure US dollar in a bootstrap, pre-seed funding round from EF Logistics, a third party logistic services provider, to introduce agile and affordable technological solutions.


Lunchbox partners with Sodexo and Kiwibot for contactless food delivery
Published: 14-10-2020 | 13:40:06 | By: Bob Koigi
Lunchbox, has partnerered with Sodexo and delivery robot startup Kiwibot, to facilitate autonomous and contactless food delivery across the University of Denver (UD) for students.


Point Pickup raises $30m to meet growing demand for enterprise e-Commerce final-mile delivery
Published: 09-10-2020 | 13:43:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Point Pickup Technologies, the company that has successfully reinvented the final-mile delivery model for many of the US's top e-Commerce enterprises, has raised $30 million from BBH Capital Partners.


Subscription Management startup Chargebee secures $55m to capture global shift to subscriptions
Published: 07-10-2020 | 12:51:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Chargebee, the subscription billing and revenue operations platform powering thousands of fast-growth subscription businesses announced a $55 million Series F funding round led by Insight Partners.


Halifax partners with ShopHere powered by Google to help small businesses sell online
Published: 06-10-2020 | 15:21:22 | By: Bob Koigi
Halifax Partnership has launched the ShopHERE powered by Google program in Halifax, a Canadian initiative that helps small businesses build online stores.


Harvard-incubated startup MarqVision launches AI-powered platform to protect brands from counterfeits
Published: 21-09-2020 | 13:43:44 | By: Pie Kamau
MarqVision, an AI-based SaaS company, launched its brand protection platform that helps brands effortlessly detect and remove counterfeits on online marketplaces.


Fintech startup KodyPay raises £1.8m to transform payments industry
Published: 17-09-2020 | 12:35:00 | By: Pie Kamau
London based fintech startup KodyPay, raised £1.8 million to transform the payments industry, allowing users to pay for goods in-store without queueing thereby making shopping a prompt and effortless process.


AppDirect raises $185 million funding to fuel global expansion
Published: 17-09-2020 | 11:42:16 | By: Bob Koigi
AppDirect, the subscription commerce platform, has announced investments of $185 million from global institutional investor Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) and existing investors.


Trust Payments partners with messaging and e-commerce startup Wakanda Messenger to empower Africans around the world
Published: 17-09-2020 | 11:05:41 | By: Pie Kamau
Trust Payments, the global unified payments group for global pay-in, pay-out and customer journey technologies, has partnered with social network, messaging and e-commerce startup Wakanda Messenger.


Wix announces Wix Capital, internal venture arm to invest in global startups
Published: 16-09-2020 | 14:23:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Wix.com, the global leader in website creation, announced its own venture capital initiative, Wix Capital, to invest in technology innovators that are focused on the future of the web.


GoDaddy acquires SkyVerge to boost online sale with WordPress and WooCommerce
Published: 15-09-2020 | 12:37:00 | By: Bob Koigi
GoDaddy Inc. , the company that empowers everyday entrepreneurs, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire SkyVerge, a WooCommerce product developer.


Klarna announces $650 million funding round to accelerate global growth
Published: 15-09-2020 | 12:22:00 | By: Bob Koigi
Klarna, the global payments and shopping service, has raised $650 million in an equity funding round, at a post money valuation of $10.65 billion.


Nigerian e-commerce startup Kwik Delivery releases WooCommerce plugin, enabling 2-hour deliveries for online merchants
Published: 15-09-2020 | 12:07:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Nigerian e-commerce startup Kwik Delivery released a WooCommerce plugin, enabling thousands of Nigerian online merchants to integrate seamlessly its delivery service to their WordPress online stores.


GreenTec invests in Cameroon digital farm startup Freshbag
Published: 11-09-2020 | 08:28:33 | By: Bob Koigi
GreenTec has announced its investment in Freshbag, an innovative digital Cameroon platform that connects farmers and vendors to ensure a fair and reliable food supply network.


Early investors in 4IR startups set to reap rewards
Published: 08-09-2020 | 15:45:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Early investors in startups with exposure to the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) are benefiting from significant revenue growth despite the physical constraints introduced by governments’ responses to the Covid-19 pandemic.


e-commerce startup Pharmapacks closes $40m bridge round financing
Published: 03-09-2020 | 15:12:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Pharmapacks, a leading e-commerce enablement platform and retail seller for brands across major ecommerce marketplaces announced the closing of a $40 million bridge round financing.


On-demand grocery startup Weee raises $35 million to accelerate expansion
Published: 28-08-2020 | 15:33:48 | By: Bob Koigi
Asian e-grocer in the United States, Weee!, has announced $35 million in Series C financing led by DST Global; bringing the total capital raised to over $100 million.


Oregon based cannabis e-commerce startup Dutchie completes $35m Series B funding round
Published: 19-08-2020 | 15:13:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Dutchie, the world's largest and fastest-growing e-commerce solution for cannabis dispensaries announced the completion of its $35 million Series B funding round, bringing Dutchie's total funding to $53 million to date.


Ukrainian startup Liki24 raises $5m from Horizon Capital, existing investors to fuel European expansion
Published: 14-08-2020 | 14:46:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Liki24, Ukraine-based e-commerce platform for medicine delivery, raised a $5 million round from Horizon Capital and existing investors, bringing total funding raised to date to $6 million.


Kenyan retail-tech startup MarketForce 360 selected for Y Combinator Summer 2020 Batch
Published: 12-08-2020 | 14:17:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Kenyan retail-tech startup MarketForce has been selected for the Silicon Valley based Y Combinator Summer 2020 batch.


[Startup Interview] Ian Sendagala, CEO, eFoods Trade, Uganda
Published: 08-07-2020 | 14:23:00 | By: Bob Koigi
eFoods Trade is an African online B2B marketplace connecting African foods to the global markets. The platform targets food importers, exporters, distributors, and manufacturers. Ian Sendagala the CEO explains.


GreenTec Capital invests in Nigerian wholesale e-commerce startup Pricepally
Published: 07-07-2020 | 15:34:25 | By: Pie Kamau
GreenTec Capital Partners announced its investment in Pricepally, an innovative digital Nigerian wholesale platform allowing users to purchase food and other products either individually or as a part of a group.


British startup Cazoo reaches unicorn status, gets extra £25m funding
Published: 23-06-2020 | 10:41:00 | By: Pie Kamau
British used-car startup Cazoo has joined the exclusive list of companies known as unicorns, with valuations in excess of $1 billion.


Germany experience management startup zenloop raises €6.1 million to fund expansion
Published: 18-06-2020 | 15:14:47 | By: Bob Koigi
zenloop, an integrated experience management platform based in Germany has announced a financing round of 6.1 million euros.


US fintech startup PruPay partners with PayPal to launch touchless payments
Published: 29-05-2020 | 16:56:00 | By: Bob Koigi
PruPay, a U.S.-based payments technology company has joined forces with PayPal to launch touchless pay for customers through text messaging.


Irish startup Buymie enters UK online grocery market in a deal with Co-Op
Published: 26-05-2020 | 15:02:00 | By: Bob Koigi
Irish startup Buymie has teamed-up with Co-op to offer same-day home grocery deliveries to over 200,000 households across Bristol.


Bolt raises €100m from Naya Capital to expand transport, food delivery services in Europe and Africa
Published: 26-05-2020 | 15:02:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Estonia-based Bolt has closed an investment round of €100m from Naya Capital Management to help the company continue to scale its product segments from ride-hailing to micro-mobility and food delivery in Europe and Africa.


Kenya's retail-tech startup MarketForce 360 secures $350,000 in seed investment
Published: 26-05-2020 | 13:43:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Mesozi Group announces the close of USD 350,000 seed investment from a group of strong Kenyan angel investors through ViKtoria Business Angels Network(VBAN), alongside Growing Africa Capital and global VCs.


[Startup Interview] Cyrus Mulinge, CEO, Trots Technologies, Kenya
Published: 21-04-2020 | 13:15:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Cyrus Mulinge is the CEO of Trots Technologies, a Kenyan based mobile commerce platform that allows seamless and uninterrupted interaction between businesses and their audiences.


[Column] Penny Whitelaw: Fashion ecommerce opportunities amid Covid-19
Published: 10-04-2020 | 16:13:00 | By: Pie Kamau
We are living in unprecedented times. The widespread outbreak of coronavirus has created uncertainty across industries, fashion retail being particularly vulnerable with the closure of bricks and mortar stores.


[Startup Interview] Nathaniel Ndegwa, Managing Director, Tipping Point Media, Kenya
Published: 11-03-2020 | 12:46:00 | By: Bas Vlugt
Nathaniel Ndegwa is the Managing Director of Tipping Point Media, a Kenyan digital marketing startup that has now grown its clientele to 15 countries,, with a bias to SMEs and E-commerce


[Startup Interview] Penny Whitelaw, CEO, Scircula, The Netherlands
Published: 11-02-2020 | 16:10:00 | By: Pie Kamau
Penny Whitelaw tells all about her startup Scircula. As one of the five winning startups, Scircula will speak on the main stage of Cross Media Congress 2020.


[Startup Interview] Yvette Uwimpaye, CEO, Murukali, Rwanda   
Published: 31-05-2019 | 12:18:00 | By: Bob Koigi
Yvette Uwimpaye is the founder and CEO of Murukali, one of Rwanda’s pioneer e-commerce startups that has been in operation since 2015 and now boasts of a clientele spanning USA, Australia, Switzerland, Uganda and Kenya.