Editor’s note: African-Startups is a sister publication of EU-Startups, bringing trusted coverage of startups, venture capital, and innovation across Africa.
Afrikrea, an Ivorian startup, has relaunched under its original name as the commerce platform marks its 10th anniversary, returning to the identity associated with African and diaspora fashion, art and craft.
Founded in 2016 by Moulaye Taboure, Kadry Diallo and Luc B. Perussault Diallo, Afrikrea was created to connect independent creators across Africa and the diaspora with customers worldwide. The platform has since expanded into a broader commerce business known as ANKA, which includes consumer and business-focused products.
“Fashion is where culture, craft, and commerce meet. Throughout my career, I have seen that the strongest businesses begin with a distinct creative point of view,” said Matilda Ceesay, CEO of Afrikrea. “Afrikrea is returning to the name that carries that point of view: a home for African and diaspora creators whose work deserves to be seen, valued, and built into enduring businesses.”
Afrikrea has a new structure where it will serve as a consumer marketplace. At the same time, ANKA Pay and ANKA Ship will focus on business-to-business software. The company is returning to the Afrikrea name to emphasise its mission of helping independent creators connect with international audiences.
This relaunch comes after ten years of growth for the creator community. Since starting in 2016, Afrikrea has helped creators generate over $30 million in sales. Additionally, more than 74% of its creators are women, with most consumers located in Europe and North America.
Afrikrea operates beyond an online marketplace, with a community of over 700,000 followers and a newsletter that has 49,000 subscribers.
Their physical pop-up events have generated significant sales in a short time, with some earning hundreds of thousands of dollars in under a week. The marketplace has also recorded over 125,000 five-star orders.
The platform supports creators in 94 countries, including 39 in Africa, and reaches buyers in 185 markets. The recent relaunch aims to enhance access for independent creators to global customers, focusing on the idea that location should not limit a creator’s reach.
