Afrobility: Africa Tech and Business

#67: Sabi - How the B2B retail platform is providing business services to informal SMB retailers, distributors, suppliers and manufacturers in Nigeria and Africa

Listen Later

Overview: Today, we’re going to talk about Sabi, the B2B retail & supply chain services platform. We’ll explore the story across the following areas:

  1. Africa’s and Nigeria’s informal retail sector

  2. Sabi’s early history

  3. Product & monetization strategy

  4. Competitive positioning & potential exit options

  5. Overall Outlook.

    6. This episode was recorded on July 23, 2023

    Companies discussed: Sabi, Rensource, TradeDepot, Twiga Foods, Wasoko (Sokowatch), Omnibiz, Alerzo, & Marketforce

    Business concepts discussed: Informal retail penetration, SMB retail OS, B2B Operating systems, Equity carve-outs, Power as a service, Channel margins & Supply chain logistics

    Conversation highlights:

    • (01:00) - Sabi context

    • (06:30) - Africa and Nigeria informal retail context and background

    • (20:39) - Background on the founders

    • (30:04) - Quick Rensource detour - overview and background

    • (37:05) - Background on Sabi founding

    • (47:52) - Fundraising

    • (56:40) - Geographic expansion, partnerships and metrics, and growth

    • (1:10:15) - Product Strategy

    • (1:21:17) - How Sabi makes money

    • (1:32:06) - Competition and options for exit

    • (1:46:16) - Bankole’s overall thoughts and outlook

    • (1:55:59) - Olumide’s overall thoughts and outlook

    • (2:07:49) - 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: Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity (book by Peter Attia)

      • Recommendation: I Don't Want to Talk About It: Overcoming the Secret Legacy of Male Depression (book by Terrence Real)

      • Small win: Organized House party with friends yesterday, it was fun.

      • Small win: Got a new backpack for future travelling, very nice.


        • Bankole’s recommendations & small wins:

        • Recommendation: Invest Like The Best with the co-founder of FIGS & Spiderman Song - Nigerian Remix

        • Small win: New keycaps!!!

        • Other content: How Equifax became a private IRS, Mission.org podcast episode with CEO Sabi  & Norrsken22-Backed Nigerian Startup Plans $125 Million Round


          • 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]


          Join our substack mailing list where we get feedback on new episodes & find all episodes on Afrobility.com

          ...more
          View all episodesView all episodes
          Download on the App Store
          Afrobility: Africa Tech and BusinessBy Olumide Ogunsanwo and Bankole Makanju
          • 5
          • 5
          • 5
          • 5
          • 5

          5

          39 ratings

          More shows like Afrobility: Africa Tech and Business

          View all
          Acquired by Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal

          Acquired

          4,499 Listeners

          Next Africa by Bloomberg

          Next Africa

          187 Listeners

          The Journal. by The Wall Street Journal & Spotify Studios

          The Journal.

          6,083 Listeners

          Empire by Goalhanger

          Empire

          2,483 Listeners