Browsing: africa investment

A kiosk vendor wearing a Wasoko t-shirt. Sokowatch has rebranded to Wasoko following its entry into Ivory Coast and Senegal. www.theexchange.africa

Investors rush for Africa’s B2B e-commerce startups

Tech & Business

“Sokowatch started as this kind of backend brand. We wanted a brand that could be more front and centre for the African retailer and easily pronounced across all markets while reflecting our East African roots. So that’s why we’ve rebranded now to Wasoko, meaning ‘people of the market,” Yu said.

The seven-year-old company said this round of funding will go towards exploring expansion into Nigeria as well as Southern Africa while consolidating its position across its six current markets.

It will also make hires and expand its product offerings to point-of-sale merchant systems, bill payments and social commerce, verticals it might build in-house or back and acquire companies that provide such services.

The company also offers a buy now, pay later option for retailers who need working capital to order more goods. Buy now, pay later offerings are the latest trend for B2B retail and e-commerce companies. They see it as a sticky option in an otherwise volatile space where retailers aren’t committed to one player, given non-differential offerings.

The JSE an Emerging Markets treasure trove

Investing

Ratings agency pronouncements are important in that they determine the financial standing of a country in the markets. When a country has unfavourable ratings, it will find it difficult to borrow without paying high-interest rates.

Conversely, favourable ratings indicate a much more stable credit proposition which will enable a borrower to access funding at concessionary rates.

South Africa has received funding to the tune of tens of billions of Rand from developed countries. This financial package has been to assist the country in reducing its reliance on fossil fuels for its energy. The country received this money immediately after the COP 26 conference last year.