Nigerian social commerce startup, MAKA, has secured a pre-seed funding round of US$2.65 million to aid its expansion. The interactive platform was established in 2021 by CEO Diana Owusu-Kyereko. It uses live try-on hauls, reviews, and user-generated content to help users discover fashion products that suit their personal styles.
The idea for MAKA was born after Owusu-Kyereko noticed a lack of diverse style recommendations during the pandemic. The platform she created has since garnered over 550,000 downloads.
The recent pre-seed funding, aimed to boost the platform’s scalability, was co-led by 4DX Ventures and Janngo, with further support from Palm Drive Capital. The investment round also included contributions from angel investor Jonathan Shipman and executives from Wolt, a delivery platform.
African e-commerce deserves better, and we’re driven by our belief that everyone should be able to easily discover their style, feel represented and express their individuality. Our technology, coupled with our team of experts, not only empowers users but also liberates them to confidently explore and make purchases from verified and trusted brands.
Young consumers today face a shared dilemma – they crave authenticity and the freedom to set their own trends, but they are influenced by real people, and they seek choice and individuality without being misled. Our focus remains clear, and we’re committed to providing our users with an authentic space to explore their unique style while empowering creators to showcase their content and connect with new audiences. We want to foster meaningful connections between creators and customers.
CEO Diana Owusu-Kyereko
Fatoumata Bâ, the founder and executive chair of Janngo Capital, expressed her company’s interest in MAKA by highlighting its innovative use of technology. She said that MAKA, through leveraging technology, empowers both consumers and creators, placing itself at the forefront of the intersection between e-commerce, and the creative and cultural industries across Africa.
“These three sectors are jointly poised to grow by 4x by 2050 and generate up to US$200 billion GDP while creating 184 million jobs. We are proud to lead this funding round to help unlock a potential of massive growth and impact on the continent,” she said.
