Kenyan e-commerce Copia secures $20m Series C extension
Kenyan e-commerce and fintech platform Copia Global, catering to mass market consumers, has added John Lazar, former CEO of Metaswitch, a Microsoft subsidiary, to its board following a $20 million injection of new funding.
Enza Capital, the Pan-African VC firm co-founded by Lazar in 2019, played a significant role in the Series C extension round, alongside participants such as LGT, Goodwell Investments, the US International DFC, Germany’s DEG, Swiss-based Elea, Perivoli Foundation, and Sorenson Foundation.
Copia utilizes a network of local agents and logistics to reach its target market. With a robust network of over 50,000 agents, who are small business owners in Kenyan towns and villages, Copia has served over 2 million consumers. Most transactions through Copia's agent network occur offline, as customers place orders for household items, electronics, or food items in person at agents' shops, via USSD, or by phone.
Points clés à retenir
Consumer spending in Africa is expected to exceed $2 trillion within the next three years, propelled by the growth of the continent's expanding middle class. Copia, a decade-old company, specifically targets mid- and low-income African consumers in rural areas. These consumers encounter challenges in accessing goods and services regarding choice, price value, and reliability, unlike their urban or higher-income counterparts who utilize platforms such as Jumia and Takealot, tailored for Western and Africa-focused markets. Despite the hurdles in identifying this target market and the potential limitation of smaller wallet sizes, Copia perceives an opportunity given the substantial number of approximately 750 million people across Africa. Having secured over $120 million in funding since its inception, including a $50 million Series C round in January, the startup adjusted its expansion plans and underwent significant workforce reductions in the current year—a reduction of at least 700 roles, including a 25% cut in its Kenyan headcount in July and the earlier closure of its Uganda business.






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