Africa | July 21, 2020

E-commerce startup TradeDepot adds financial services for small shops

Jessica Pothering
ImpactAlpha Editor

Jessica Pothering

ImpactAlpha, July 21 – Lagos-based TradeDepot launched in 2016 with a mobile app and Whatsapp service that helps the mostly women owners of small kiosks and corner shops source inventory from companies like Unilever and Danone.

With $10 million in funding from Partech, International Finance Corp., Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative and MSA Capital, Trade Depot will help retailers finance inventory purchases and grow their businesses.

Other African startups take a similar approach to financial inclusion. Pharmacy-focused Field Intelligence offers small business financing along with its drug inventory forecasting service. Fresh foods-focused East Africa Fruits is looking to add financial services for smallholder farmers to its logistics service.