Sokowatch is an East African e-commerce startup on a mission to revolutionize Africa’s informal shopping. The company led by Daniel Yu wants to expand in West Africa, notably in Ivory Coast and Senegal, after deploying its B2B strategy in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.
By the end of the year, the corporation plans to establish itself in Cote d’ivoire. It has already sent a staff to this location and has even established a legal subsidiary there. On the other hand, Senegal’s expansion will be implemented in 2022. Sokowatch aspires to have the same success in these new markets as it has in its main sub-region, where it serves 24,000 retailers.
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The business claims to have solved a challenge that players like Jumia are having trouble solving. According to Daniel Yu, Africa’s unorganized retail industry is significantly larger than what the continent’s e-commerce leader can handle. According to him, Jumia’s approach, which is comparable to Amazon’s, is too complex to be adapted to Africa.
A Look At What Sokowatch Does
- From Nairobi, the company has created a platform that connects merchants directly to local and multinational suppliers — such as Unilever and Proctor and Gamble — and digitizes orders, payments and delivery-logistics.
- Since launching in 2016, and raising a $2 million seed round in 2018, Sokowatch has expanded within Kenya and into Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.
- By Yu’s account, too many of Africa’s local merchants are sacrificing capital and incurring opportunity cost due to inefficient supply-chain.
Sokowatch Ivory Coast Senegal Sokowatch Ivory Coast Senegal
Charles Rapulu Udoh
Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer who has advised startups across Africa on issues such as startup funding (Venture Capital, Debt financing, private equity, angel investing etc), taxation, strategies, etc. He also has special focus on the protection of business or brands’ intellectual property rights ( such as trademark, patent or design) across Africa and other foreign jurisdictions.
He is well versed on issues of ESG (sustainability), media and entertainment law, corporate finance and governance.
He is also an award-winning writer