A first for a digital startup in Gabon, Olatono Market, a Gabonese platform specialising in e-commerce, has disclosed it has raised its first funding of 45,000 euros. Using the funding, the company will be able to improve its alliances, expand into Central Africa more quickly thanks to the finance, and establish a platform that will revolutionise online shopping in Gabon.

Olatano Market founder Thierry Dzime said, “Our innovative platform is a complete break from the classic offer of existing players and comes to meet the expectations of customers, who are increasingly eager to have a choice, compare prices, and have access to prices and products wherever they are. in Gabon.

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The company has made it its mission to revolutionise e-commerce in Central Africa since its founding in March 2021. The platform created the Achat Flex service, which enables users to pay online using both instalment payments and more traditional payment methods like credit cards, mobile money, and cash on delivery. In Gabon, where e-commerce is starting to take off, this is a first.

In 2021, Gabon overtook Cameroon as the region’s e-commerce leader in the ECCAS (Economic Community of Central African States), according to a research by the GSMA (global association of mobile operators) and the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

The managers of Olatano Market hope to expand their offerings, grow the business more quickly, hire more people, and sign new contracts using the money they will get. 

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“We are thrilled to assist in the business’ growth and the introduction of the new Buy Flex product. The goal is to identify the leaders of the Gabonese economy of the future. We are pleased to have contributed to this start-up with these funds. We will assist him as he advances,” said Fabrice Nze-Bekale, head of the Gabon Angel Investor Network (GAIN).

Olatono Market Olatono Market

Charles Rapulu Udoh

Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer, who has several years of experience working in Africa’s burgeoning tech startup industry. He has closed multi-million dollar deals bordering on venture capital, private equity, intellectual property (trademark, patent or design, etc.), mergers and acquisitions, in countries such as in the Delaware, New York, UK, Singapore, British Virgin Islands, South Africa, Nigeria etc. He’s also a corporate governance and cross-border data privacy and tax expert. 
As an award-winning writer and researcher, he is passionate about telling the African startup story, and is one of the continent’s pioneers in this regard