Cartnshop, a Kenyan startup that helps African small businesses build up internet stores quickly and affordably, has secured $400,000 in funding as it prepares to launch next month.
Cartnshop was established in the year 2018. It’s an end-to-end e-store enablement engine that helps any retailer or corporation gain new customers.
Payment gateways, shipping and fulfillment centers, marketing and marketplace cross-listings, and business management capabilities are all part of the startup’s B2B and B2C channels.
“The Cartnshop ecosystem pulls stakeholders into the channels, including manufacturers, suppliers and distributors, service providers, and e-commerce enablers, providing a complete model of B2B2C,” stated Joe Wambugu, creator and CEO.
In late 2019, the startup launched engine one and onboarded 50 merchants. It released engine two with over 300 merchants after demonstrating the concept and receiving feedback.
In 2020, it embarked on a market proof of concept with Safaricom and EABL, gaining enough market feedback to develop engine three, which is currently ready to go live and can accommodate over one million merchants.
The rollout will be sponsored by a $400,000 investment from a group of business angels this month.
Cartnshop has made its platform available to some retailers in Botswana and Tanzania, but Wambugu says Kenya is the company’s major emphasis.
