• z.systems connects brands, distributors, retailers and consumers through a B2B2C platform
• Startup raised $1.65 million to expand and scale its digital retail ecosystem
• Company targets Africa’s fragmented and largely informal retail market

z.systems operates as an e-commerce startup offering a business-to-business-to-customer (B2B2C) platform. The platform connects brands, distributors, retailers and consumers within a single ecosystem. The Casablanca-based startup was founded in 2022 by Samer Choumar, Meriem Benabad, Youssef Haddouch, Reda Nebri and Youssef Drafate.

“On one side, we connect brands directly with retailers through the Z platform, which ensures product availability, price control and in-store visibility, while reducing the costs and complexity of traditional distribution,” the company said. It added: “On the other side, we attract consumers to Z retailers through dynamic promotions, gamified loyalty programs and deferred payment options, thereby recreating the modern retail experience in the informal retail sector.”

The solution relies on a full-stack approach built around several applications. It includes a mobile application for retailers, a web platform for partners and an e-commerce application for consumers.

Retailers can order products directly from brands, monitor inventory and access additional services such as loyalty programs and payment solutions.

Meanwhile, brands gain greater visibility over sales and can manage campaigns in real time. At the same time, consumers access personalized offers and incentive mechanisms such as rewards and deferred payment. At the core of its model, z.systems leverages data to optimize operations and improve performance across stakeholders.

The startup has secured backing from several investors and recently raised $1.65 million to accelerate its development and expand into new markets. Over the long term, z.systems aims to transform neighborhood shops into a structured and connected network capable of competing with modern distribution channels while preserving their local roots.

This article was initially published in French by Adoni Conrad Quenum

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum

• Vazzel provides an online marketplace linking fashion brands, designers and consumers.

• The platform integrates artificial intelligence to personalize recommendations and optimize sales.

• Founder Mayowa Akande combines engineering expertise with international tech experience.

Mayowa Akande is a Nigerian IT project engineer and entrepreneur. He is the co-founder of Vazzel, a digital marketplace dedicated to fashion that connects designers, vendors and style-conscious consumers on one platform.

Akande founded Vazzel in 2024 as a fully online ecosystem offering clothing, bags, shoes, accessories and hair products. The platform targets both established brands and emerging designers and provides them with a structured space to showcase collections and reach a broader audience.

Vazzel enables sellers and designers to open online stores, display products and manage operations within a centralized system. The platform provides continuous support and offers round-the-clock assistance to help brands design storefronts, present products and monitor performance.

At the same time, the platform allows buyers to access a wide selection of fashion items in one place. Users can explore multiple brands and collections while identifying products that match their personal style. The platform aims to reduce common issues related to sizing and fit.

Artificial intelligence plays a central role in Vazzel’s operations. The platform uses AI-powered tools to match products with customers more effectively. These tools include personalized recommendations, sales and preference analysis, and product image optimization.

Mayowa Akande holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical and electronic engineering from the Federal University of Agriculture in Nigeria. He also earned a master’s degree in electronic engineering and information technology from the Université libre de Bruxelles.

Between 2014 and 2016, Akande completed several internships, including a role as an electrical project engineer at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

In 2019, he joined Longbridge Technologies Ltd as an IT project engineer. He then moved to Belgian logistics company Katoen Natie in 2020, where he worked as a project control coordinator. Between 2021 and 2022, he completed a data and automation engineering internship at Awingu.

This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum

• Send Me integrates marketplace, payments, and delivery into a single platform in Sierra Leone.

• The startup targets local commerce efficiency by connecting customers, vendors, and couriers.

• Founder Emmanuel Lahai combines e-commerce and fintech experience to address payment challenges.

In Freetown, Emmanuel Lahai develops a digital platform that connects customers, vendors, and delivery providers within a single ecosystem. He founded and leads Send Me, a company operating at the intersection of food delivery and online commerce.

Moreover, he positions the platform as a localized solution designed to streamline everyday transactions.

Founded in 2019, Send Me aligns with Sierra Leone’s broader digital development trend. The company aims to facilitate daily buying and selling through an accessible online system.

The platform integrates a marketplace, secure payment solutions, and delivery services into a single interface. As a result, users can select products, complete transactions, and receive deliveries without leaving the platform.

Furthermore, this integrated model simplifies processes, accelerates transactions, and enhances security while adapting to local market conditions.

Send Me collaborates with multiple restaurants across Freetown. The platform offers a range of meals that reflect local flavors and the diversity of the city’s culinary scene.

Therefore, the company strengthens visibility for local businesses while expanding consumer access to food services.

In parallel, Emmanuel Lahai works as project manager for Kala, a financial technology platform designed to address challenges in payments and money transfers in Sierra Leone.

Previously, he served as chief executive officer of Fahrenheit Engineering Company from 2021 to 2024. This experience reinforces his operational and managerial expertise.

Emmanuel Lahai completed his higher education across multiple countries. He earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering in 2023 from Southeast University.

He also obtained a bachelor’s degree in software engineering in 2025 from Limkokwing University of Creative Technology. This dual background supports his positioning at the intersection of infrastructure and digital technology.

This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum

• WeeWee Delivery connects e-commerce sellers with independent couriers across Algeria

• The platform streamlines parcel shipping through a centralized digital interface

• Founder Sami Kehal leverages technology to improve speed, cost and user experience

Sami Kehal leads WeeWee Delivery as founder and chief executive officer. He positions the platform as a technology-driven solution to simplify parcel shipping across Algeria.

He builds the business in response to the rapid growth of e-commerce, which increases demand for flexible and efficient delivery services.

WeeWee Delivery, founded in 2021, offers an intuitive platform designed to save time, reduce costs and improve user convenience. The company aims to deliver a faster and smoother experience than traditional logistics solutions, which users often consider slow and complex.

The platform connects e-commerce merchants and individuals who need to ship parcels with independent couriers registered on WeeWee. The user submits a delivery request online, and an available courier collects the parcel and delivers it to the recipient.

Moreover, the company operates a centralized interface that simplifies procedures for both senders and couriers.

WeeWee Delivery handles a wide range of everyday shipments. The platform delivers standard parcels, meals, flowers, gifts, medicines and documents.

This diversity enables the company to serve online stores, physical retailers and individual customers with varied logistics needs.

Sami Kehal graduated from the University of Batna 2 in Algeria with a master’s degree in industrial hygiene and safety in 2017. He began his career the same year at Hyundai Engineering as a hazardous materials manager.

Between 2018 and 2021, he worked as an HSE (health, safety and environment) supervisor. He then shifted fully into entrepreneurship by launching WeeWee Delivery.

This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum

• Eric Bemba founded Wiikko, a Kinshasa-based shopping and delivery platform launched in 2019.
• The platform connects local merchants and restaurants with digitally connected consumers.
• Bemba also serves as Yango’s Country Manager in DR Congo and co-founded fintech startup Splitti.

Eric Bemba is a Congolese entrepreneur active in technology and mobility. He founded Wiikko, a shopping and delivery platform that allows users to order products from restaurants and stores and receive them at an address of their choice in Kinshasa.

The company launched Wiikko in 2019 as a mobile application available on major online app stores. The platform targets a broad audience familiar with social media and evolving digital consumption trends. Users select their items, and the Wiikko team manages the process from preparation to delivery.

By simplifying ordering, tracking and delivery, Wiikko acts as an intermediary between merchants, restaurateurs and customers. The platform also enables consumers to discover new stores, products and promotional offers. For businesses, the platform provides additional visibility, order management tools and a logistics service that extends operations to customers’ homes.

Alongside this venture, Eric Bemba serves as Country Manager of Yango in the Democratic Republic of Congo and as operations director for Francophone Africa. He also co-founded Splitti in 2020, a fintech company that enables users to create groups and collect funds to finance events.

Bemba graduated from the University of Alabama in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in commerce and business administration. He began his career in 2010 at ConseilRH, a French recruitment consulting firm, where he served as international payroll manager.

He joined EY Paris in 2013 as a consultant in audit, advisory, tax and legal services. He returned to Kinshasa in 2016 and joined Compagnie Financière du Congo as a consultant. He then became head of development at SESOMO Services, a human resources services provider, in 2017.

This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum

• Nigerian startup Timon offers an all-in-one financial app for travelers, students, and remote workers living across borders.
• The platform provides multi-currency wallets, global payment cards, eSIM services, and money transfers in over 100 countries.
• The mobile app has surpassed 50,000 downloads on Android since its 2023 launch.

Timon operates as a digital solution developed by a Nigerian startup. The company designed the product for frequent travelers, international students, remote workers, and users who adopt a borderless lifestyle. Founders Oluwatomi Olarinde and Chizaram Ucheaga launched the startup in 2023.

At the core of Timon’s offering, a mobile application combines multiple financial services. The app allows users to create and manage multi-currency wallets, including naira and U.S. dollars. The platform also provides physical and virtual payment cards that users can access in more than 100 countries. In addition, the app integrates complementary services such as international eSIMs and money transfers. Timon offers the application on iOS and Android, where downloads have exceeded 50,000, according to Google Play Store data.

“We comply with local and international financial regulations, use advanced fraud prevention systems, and apply industry-standard encryption to protect your funds and personal information at all times,” the startup said.

Through the mobile platform, users can pay online or in stores, plan trips, activate cards instantly, and convert stablecoins into spendable currencies. Timon targets a seamless user experience through transparent fees, rapid service deployment, and an interface designed for globally mobile African users and diaspora communities.

By combining financial management, global connectivity, and universal payment cards, the Nigerian fintech positions itself as a digital financial passport for 21st-century travelers, digital nomads, and mobile professionals.

This article was initially published in French by Adoni Conrad Quenum

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum

• South African entrepreneur André de Wet founded Flood to digitize local commerce through mobile-first platforms.

• Flood aims to become a “Shopify for physical stores” by turning existing audiences into local marketplaces.

• The platform targets telecoms, digital banks, and SMEs seeking monetization and proximity-based engagement.

André de Wet is a South Africa–based entrepreneur operating from Cape Town. He founded Flood, a platform designed to help neighborhood retailers remain visible and competitive in a mobile-driven economy without imposing complex technologies.

Founded in 2020, Flood positions itself as a commerce solution built for a smartphone-centric world. The company aims to create the equivalent of Shopify for physical stores that serve customers in person while extending relationships into digital channels.

The platform converts existing audiences, including telecom subscribers, digital bank customers, and radio listeners, into localized marketplaces. The audience owner becomes the central access point where consumers discover offers, select products, and complete payments.

Flood primarily targets organizations that control large user bases, including telecom operators and digital banks, but underutilize their commercial potential. The platform allows these organizations to become their customers’ main digital destination by combining offer discovery and payment within a single environment.

For small and medium-sized businesses, Flood simplifies engagement with geographically nearby customers and places merchants at the center of a local digital ecosystem. For consumers, the platform enables mobile wallet usage, contactless payments, instant rewards at purchase, and real-time interaction tracking.

Alongside Flood, André de Wet founded consulting firm 2ndBase in 2018 and serves as its chief executive officer. The firm supports corporate clients in understanding and adopting digital technologies. He launched his first entrepreneurial venture in 2005 with the creation of IT services company WebTec.

From an academic perspective, de Wet holds a bachelor’s degree in medicine earned in 1989 from the University of the Free State in South Africa. He later earned a master’s degree in international management from the University of Salford in 2020. He began his professional career in 1997 at Global Visual Media, where he served as senior marketing manager.

In 2010, de Wet joined fintech company PayU as head of business development. In 2011, he became chief executive officer of price-comparison platform PriceCheck. Between 2016 and 2017, he served as Africa head at on-demand entertainment platform iFix.

This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba

Adapted in English by Ange Jason de BERRY QUENUM

• La Poste Burkina Faso launched Fasoranana in 2019 as part of its digital transformation strategy.
• The platform integrates e-commerce, payment, and nationwide delivery through the postal network.
• Fasoranana supports local merchants while expanding access to online retail in Burkina Faso.

La Poste Burkina Faso developed Fasoranana as an online commerce platform. The postal operator designed the solution to allow users to buy and sell goods easily. The platform, launched in 2019, forms part of the operator’s broader strategy to embed digital services into its core postal activities.

Fasoranana operates through a mobile application available on Android. The application has already recorded more than one hundred downloads, according to the Play Store.

On the platform, customers browse hundreds of products through smartphones or web browsers. Users select items, manage orders, and complete secure payments via mobile money, bank cards, or cash on delivery. Meanwhile, La Poste Burkina Faso ensures delivery through its national postal network, which leverages its logistics and distribution expertise.

Fasoranana aims to recreate the physical market experience in a digital environment. The platform reduces travel constraints and improves purchasing convenience for Burkinabe consumers. At the same time, the initiative allows local merchants to expand online operations, reach new customers, and increase visibility without facing traditional barriers linked to physical retail.

By broadening access to e-commerce, Fasoranana contributes to the modernization of Burkina Faso’s retail sector. In addition, the platform capitalizes on existing postal infrastructure to deliver an integrated solution covering sales, payments, and last-mile delivery.

This article was initially published in French by Adoni Conrad Quenum

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum

• Hazem Afify founded Sumet in 2021 to modernize FMCG supply chains for African retailers.
• Sumet targets local and informal markets that traditional distribution networks serve inefficiently.
• The platform enables rapid deliveries, sometimes within 24 hours in major urban areas.

Hazem Afify is an Egyptian-born entrepreneur based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He founded and currently leads Sumet as chief executive officer. The technology company redesigns fast-moving consumer goods supply chains for neighborhood retail stores.

Sumet launched operations in 2021. The company positions itself as a dedicated platform for fast-moving consumer goods. The platform aims to facilitate market entry and brand growth across Africa. The company focuses on local and often informal markets, where traditional distribution networks struggle to serve small retailers efficiently.

The platform allows merchants to order a wide range of branded products with a few clicks. The system provides fast delivery, sometimes within 24 hours in selected urban areas. This model reduces travel time, lowers logistics costs, and limits stock-out risks.

For brands and distributors, Sumet provides detailed visibility into product performance at individual retail outlets. The platform enables order tracking and merchandise flow monitoring. These features allow manufacturers to optimize delivery planning, adjust field presence, and better understand retailers’ operational needs.

Alongside Sumet, Hazem Afify co-founded and leads Global Business as chief executive officer. The export, import, and distribution company operates from Turkey. The company launched in 2015. It focuses primarily on fast-moving consumer goods and cosmetics. The company maintains branches in Tanzania, including Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar.

Hazem Afify graduated from Cairo University in Egypt. He earned a bachelor’s degree in electronic and communications engineering in 2007. He began his professional career in 2008 at Mentor Graphics. The electronic design automation company employed him as a technical marketing engineer and later as an integrated circuit design consultant until 2015.

This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum

• Vuba Vuba launched in 2020 to fill the gap left by Jumia Food’s exit from Rwanda in 2019.
• The app connects users to restaurants, supermarkets, and local merchants with deliveries in under an hour.
• The platform has surpassed 100,000 downloads on Android and relies on motorcycle-based local logistics.

Vuba Vuba is a mobile application developed by a Rwandan startup. Albert Munyabugingo launched the platform in 2020. The application connects users to a wide range of restaurants, supermarkets, and merchants. The service offers fast deliveries, often in less than one hour.

The application operates on iOS and Android platforms. Google Play Store data show more than 100,000 downloads. The company relies on a strong local logistics network. The platform uses motorcycle couriers to distribute orders efficiently.

Beyond delivery services, Vuba Vuba creates economic opportunities for local stakeholders. The platform allows food outlets and small retailers to digitize sales channels. The solution helps merchants expand customer reach and increase order volumes without heavy investment in proprietary digital infrastructure.

The application integrates a tracking system that alerts customers when couriers collect orders. The system allows users to follow deliveries in real time and receive notifications when couriers approach. “Our team works diligently to ensure fast processing and delivery of orders. The estimated delivery time depends on your location. In general, you can expect your order to arrive within 45 minutes,” the startup said.

As e-commerce and digital services continue to expand across East Africa, Vuba Vuba demonstrates how locally adapted solutions can drive digital inclusion. The model supports entrepreneurship and responds to rising demand for efficient delivery services.

This article was initially published in French by Adoni Conrad Quenum

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum