GHANA – Ghanaian startup Plendify has launched a B2B e-commerce marketplace to connect customers with small and large African wholesalers, manufacturers, exporters, and importers.
Plendify is a Pan-African B2B Marketplace that allows buyers around the world and African diaspora to purchase products in bulk or retail quantities conveniently and securely from local sellers in Ghana.
The startup also provides a business directory of leading suppliers in Africa and also enables buyers to receive quotes directly on the platform.
Suppliers can also buy and sell from each other in bulk, find quality products from trusted suppliers and receive competitive quotes.
“This relatively new platform enables those in the diaspora now to enjoy access to these previously hard-to-reach suppliers.”
Co-Founder Plendify – Michael Manirakza
Plendify was established in 2018 in Toronto, Canada by the trio of Beau Sackey from Ghana, Michael Manirakza from Rwanda and Roger Vandomme from Ivory Coast.
The co-founders had complementary skill sets across business, finance, data science and technology and wanted to build a scalable and impactful business in Africa to eventually support the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Since launching the platform in November 2020, Plendify has signed up over 1,000 suppliers including national Ghanaian brands such as Vitamilk and Bel Aqua, giving local buyers a wide variety of choice of high-quality products in major categories such as food and beverage.
“This relatively new platform enables those in the diaspora now to enjoy access to these previously hard-to-reach suppliers.
“Buyers can now pay with their international cards and track their local deliveries directly in the app or website from anywhere in the world,” said Michael.
Recently, the company entered into a partnership with the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA) and the Mastercard Foundation to create an online marketplace to support women and young entrepreneurs promote their products and connect with customers globally.
Meanwhile in the African hub of tech and ecommerce, Egypt-based ecommerce startup, Brimore, is preparing to raise more funding to strengthen its business in the North African country, after receiving a US$3.5 million investment in May 2020.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is exploring a US$5 million investment in the four-year-old social ecommerce startup.
This investment proposal by the member of the World Bank group will be used to finance the expansion of the company and its activities in Egypt.
A round table has been launched in support of the startup that Mohamed Abdulaziz, the current CEO, and Ahmed Sheikha, the commercial director, co-founded in 2017.
The fundraising is expected to take place in the coming months, according to reports by Afrikanheroes.
The firm, which uses a social commerce model to reach underrepresented sectors, is anticipated to raise US$15 to US$20 million in funding and welcome new shareholders to its round table.
Liked this article? Subscribe to Food Business Africa News, our regular email newsletters with the latest news insights from Africa and the World’s food and agro industry. SUBSCRIBE HERE
