Maka, an African fashion and beauty e-commerce platform, raises a $2.65 million seed fund to expand its team in Nigeria while spreading its tentacles through Africa.
Having garnered over 500,000 downloads, the fashion startup plans to use the funding to expand its team and presence in Ghana and Nigeria.
The round was led by Pan-African venture capital firms, 4DX Ventures and Janngo Capital. Other investors include Palm Drive Capital, angel investor Jonathan Shipman, founder of EVP and Twitch founding member, and executives from delivery platform Wolt.
Founded by Diana Owusu-Kyereko, ex-Jumia CEO, Maka focuses on creating a seamless shopping experience through interactive features like live try-on hauls, reviews, and user-generated content. Targeting millennials and Gen Zers, Maka aims to bridge the trust gap in online shopping and empower creators by leveraging video content.
Fatoumata Bâ, founder and executive chair of Janngo Capital, said, “These three sectors are jointly poised to grow by 4x by 2050 and generate up to $200 billion GDP while creating 184 million jobs,” she noted.
“We are proud to lead this funding round to help unlock a potential of massive growth and impact on the continent.”
She further added that her firm was drawn to Maka’s vision of leveraging technology to empower both consumers and creators, cementing the startup’s position at the forefront of the junction between e-commerce, creative and cultural industries across Africa.
Owusu-Kyereko said, “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 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,” she said.
