Afrobility: Africa Tech and Business

#65: Wasoko (Sokowatch) - How the B2B retail platform is providing services and improving the supply chain for informal retailers across Kenya and Africa


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Overview: Today, we’re going to talk about Wasoko (Sokowatch) We’ll explore the story across the following areas:

  1. Africa’s and Kenya’s informal retail context 

  2. Wasoko's early history

  3. Wasoko's Product & monetization strategy 

  4. Competitive positioning & potential exit options

  5. Overall outlook.

  6. This episode was recorded on June 11, 2023

    Companies discussed: Wasoko (Sokowatch), Twiga Foods, TradeDepot, OmniBiz, Alerzo, mPharma, Nestle, Unilever, Multipro, Marketforce, Udaan & Flipkart

    Business concepts discussed: Informal retail penetration, Agency banking adoption, B2B Operating systems, Informal markets, & last-mile distribution

    Conversation highlights:

    • (00:40) - Sokowatch background and why we’re talking about it

    • (08:35) - African informal retail context

    • (16:11) - Founder background and Founding story

    • (29:55) - Fundraising and early growth

    • (36:56) - Geographic expansion, growth and partnerships

    • (45;12) - Team strategy

    • (54:00) - Product strategy and monetization

    • (1:10:00) - Competition and options for exit

    • (1:23:13) - Bankole’s overall thoughts and outlook

    • (1:33:05) - Olumide’s overall thoughts and outlook

    • (1:43:30) - Recommendations and small wins


    • Olumide’s recommendations & small wins:

      • Interested in investing in Africa Tech with Olumide: Read about Adamantium fund & contact me at [email protected]. Founders looking for funding: If you're a B2B founder working on Education, Health, Finance or food, please contact me for funding at [email protected]

      • Checkout my FIREDOM book = FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) + Freedom = personal finance and financial independence book. Website, Read: Substack Newsletter & Buy: Print, eBook or Audiobook)

      • Recommendation: The Slight Edge. Amazing Personal Development book about a mental framework to apply daily actions to get what you want in life. I have read it about 6 times at this point.

      • Recommendation: Temu.com. Started using it for shopping. It has some cool gamification ideas to nudge ecommerce purchases

      • Small win: Hosted house party with friends. It was great to see everyone together


      • Bankole’s recommendations & small wins:

        • Recommendation: Artificial Intelligence, a guide for Thinking Humans by Melanie Mitchell  & Would You Sell Your Extra Kidney - Dylan Walsh 

        • Small win: won my physical activity mini-league

        • Other content: FT fastest growing companies 2022 & Modularity Theory - Christensen Institute


        • Listeners: We’d love to hear from you. Email [email protected] with feedback!

          Founders & Operators: We'd love to hear about what you're working on, email us at [email protected]

          Investors: It would be great to link up with you. Contact us at [email protected]


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          Afrobility: Africa Tech and BusinessBy Olumide Ogunsanwo and Bankole Makanju

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