Nairametrics
  • Home
  • Exclusives
    • Financial Analysis
    • Corporate Stories
    • Interviews
    • Investigations
    • Metrics
  • Markets
    • Currencies
    • Cryptos
    • Commodities
    • Equities
      • Dividends
      • Stock Market
    • Fixed Income
    • Market Views
    • Securities
  • Industries
    • Company News
    • Consumer Goods
    • Corporate Updates
    • Corporate deals
    • Corporate Press Releases
    • Energy
    • Entertainment
    • Financial Services
    • Hospitality & Travel
    • Manufacturing
    • Real Estate and Construction
    • Tech News
  • Economy
    • Nairalytics
    • Macro-Economic News
    • Research Analysis
    • Budget
    • Public Debt
  • Business News
  • Financial Literacy
    • Career tips
    • Personal Finance
  • Lifestyle
    • Billionaire Watch
    • Profiles
  • Opinions
    • Blurb
    • Op-Eds
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Exclusives
    • Financial Analysis
    • Corporate Stories
    • Interviews
    • Investigations
    • Metrics
  • Markets
    • Currencies
    • Cryptos
    • Commodities
    • Equities
      • Dividends
      • Stock Market
    • Fixed Income
    • Market Views
    • Securities
  • Industries
    • Company News
    • Consumer Goods
    • Corporate Updates
    • Corporate deals
    • Corporate Press Releases
    • Energy
    • Entertainment
    • Financial Services
    • Hospitality & Travel
    • Manufacturing
    • Real Estate and Construction
    • Tech News
  • Economy
    • Nairalytics
    • Macro-Economic News
    • Research Analysis
    • Budget
    • Public Debt
  • Business News
  • Financial Literacy
    • Career tips
    • Personal Finance
  • Lifestyle
    • Billionaire Watch
    • Profiles
  • Opinions
    • Blurb
    • Op-Eds
No Result
View All Result
Nairametrics
No Result
View All Result
Home Industries Tech News

Four Startups to receive $120,000 funding through the Catalyst Fund Inclusive Digital Commerce Accelerator program

Janet JohnbyJanet John
1 year ago
in Tech News
5 active investors backing Nigerian startups in 2021
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linkedin

The Catalyst Fund Inclusive Digital Commerce Accelerator has announced four Ghanaian digital commerce companies, OZÉ, Shopa, Swoove, and Tendo, as the second cohort to receive funding and support.

The Accelerator, managed by BFA Global in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and the Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST), focuses on building the resilience of Ghana’s micro and small enterprises (MSEs). The companies selected for the second cohort are tackling challenges across the retail sector for Ghana’s informal MSEs. Their focus is on enabling the digital transformation of MSEs through solutions including digital logistics, delivery services, digitization of merchant records, inventory management, and access to affordable inventory financing.

Each of the four companies will receive up to US$120,000 in grant funding, in addition to bespoke expert-led venture acceleration support, connections with Catalyst Fund’s growing global Circle of Investors and Circle of Corporate Innovators, and in-market expertise from MEST. Each company in this cohort was approved by the Investment Advisory Committee, comprising representatives from Acuity Ventures, Chandaria Capital, 4DX Ventures, Golden Palm Investments, mPharma, and Novastar Ventures.

Selected Companies in the Catalyst Fund Inclusive Digital Commerce Accelerator

  • OZÉ enables MSEs to become better businesses and better borrowers. Businesses keep digital financial records on OZÉ which in turn provides them with the insights and information they need to make better decisions. This improves their performance and enables them to access much-needed formal credit such as for inventory financing. 97% of high-active OZÉ users were growing, profitable or both.
  • Shopa is redefining Africa’s informal retail distribution and supply chain by connecting last-mile retailers with suppliers, and enabling access to stock on cash or credit. Leveraging digital tools and an integrated delivery network, Shopa helps informal retailers to restock and receive delivery within 4 hours, without ever leaving their shop.
  • Swoove connects e-commerce businesses with accessible logistics services at an affordable price, through its app and USSD short code, while creating opportunities for youth and female entrepreneurs and revenue streams for households. Swoove already partners with MTN and has the potential to be an enabler for the larger digital commerce ecosystem to address logistics challenges.
  • Tendo enables anyone in Africa to sell online with zero upfront inventory – their platform connects dropshippers to wholesalers. The sellers on the platform are able to source products through Tendo and resell items using social commerce tools, such as WhatsApp, arrange delivery and get paid, all through the Tendo mobile app.

What they are saying

Jane del Ser, Program Director for the Catalyst Fund Inclusive Digital Commerce Accelerator said “Informal MSEs, many of whom are youth and women, get by using a piecemeal approach to digital commerce, often marketing via Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, taking in-person payments and manually addressing delivery, which is costly and puts the risk and heavy lift on the retailer. Companies like OZÉ, Shopa, Swoove, and Tendo are solving this problem with easy-to-use and affordable digital commerce services and are spurring the expansion of the digital commerce ecosystem in Ghana.”

Chirag Shamdasani, Innovation Lead, Ghana, at the Mastercard Foundation noted that Ghana’s informal micro and small enterprises hold the key to unlocking work opportunities and supporting the livelihoods of thousands of young Ghanaian women and men. By accelerating the inclusive growth of promising digital commerce solutions, informal MSEs will have options to adopt digitization in a manner that suits their needs, enabling growth and achievement of their aspirations,

Related

Tags: Catalyst Fund Inclusive Digital Commerce AcceleratorJane del SerMeltwater Entrepreneurial School of TechnologyMestOZEShopaSwooveTendo

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

HFM
Mega Millions
Mega Millions
Patricia





NM newsletters

Business News | Stock Market | Money Market | Cryptos | Financial Literacy | SME |

Recent News

  • Geregu Power announces N20 billion dividend, share price soars 10%
  • International Organization of Securities Commissions revises its 2011 principles 
  • NBS says Nigeria’s public debt has risen to N44.06 trillion

Follow us on social media:

Recent News

COVID-19: Otedola pledges N1 billion donation for Nigeria to combat disease, Otedola backtracks, says Adenuga has redeemed N1 billion pledge to the CACOVID fund

Geregu Power announces N20 billion dividend, share price soars 10%

January 31, 2023

International Organization of Securities Commissions revises its 2011 principles 

January 31, 2023
  • Home
  • Exclusives
  • Markets
  • Industries
  • Economy
  • Business News
  • Financial Literacy
  • Lifestyle
  • Opinions

© 2023 Nairametrics

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Exclusives
    • Financial Analysis
    • Corporate Stories
    • Interviews
    • Investigations
    • Metrics
  • Markets
    • Currencies
    • Cryptos
    • Commodities
    • Equities
      • Dividends
      • Stock Market
    • Fixed Income
    • Market Views
    • Securities
  • Industries
    • Company News
    • Consumer Goods
    • Corporate Updates
    • Corporate deals
    • Corporate Press Releases
    • Energy
    • Entertainment
    • Financial Services
    • Hospitality & Travel
    • Manufacturing
    • Real Estate and Construction
    • Tech News
  • Economy
    • Nairalytics
    • Macro-Economic News
    • Research Analysis
    • Budget
    • Public Debt
  • Business News
  • Financial Literacy
    • Career tips
    • Personal Finance
  • Lifestyle
    • Billionaire Watch
    • Profiles
  • Opinions
    • Blurb
    • Op-Eds

© 2023 Nairametrics