Nigeria: MAKA, Nigerian Social Commerce Platform, Secures $2.65 Million in Pre-Seed Funding

Nigerian social commerce startup, MAKA, specializing in creating an engaging and seamless fashion discovery and purchase experience, has successfully raised $2.65 million in a pre-seed funding round to support its expansion plans.

Founded in 2021 by CEO Diana Owusu-Kyereko, MAKA stands out as an interactive social commerce platform. It leverages live try-on hauls, reviews, and user-generated content from creators and customers alike, facilitating a scalable approach to help users discover products tailored to their unique styles.

Diana Owusu-Kyereko established MAKA in response to the challenges she faced during the pandemic in finding inclusive fashion inspiration. Recognizing the absence of diversity in style recommendations and a genuine market need, she launched MAKA, accumulating over 550,000 downloads to date.

The recent pre-seed funding round, totaling $2.65 million, was co-led by 4DX Ventures and Janngo, with additional participation from Palm Drive Capital. Angel investor Jonathan Shipman and executives from delivery platform Wolt also contributed to the funding.

Owusu-Kyereko expressed MAKA’s commitment to transforming African e-commerce by providing an accessible platform for users to discover their styles, feel represented, and express their individuality. She emphasized the role of MAKA’s technology and expert team in empowering users and facilitating confident exploration and purchases from verified and trusted brands.

The funding round was led by Fatoumata Bâ, founder and executive chair of Janngo Capital, who highlighted MAKA’s strategic position at the intersection of e-commerce, creative industries, and cultural representation across Africa. Bâ emphasized the significant growth potential in these sectors, projecting a collective fourfold increase and a potential GDP contribution of up to $200 billion by 2050, generating 184 million jobs.

Owusu-Kyereko reinforced MAKA’s vision, stating, “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.”

MAKA’s successful pre-seed funding round positions the startup for further growth and impact within the African social commerce landscape.