Ghana’s Tendo Gets Funding to Scale Smartphone-Driven Retail Platform

TLDR
- Ghanaian retail-tech startup Tendo has raised an undisclosed amount of funding from Renew Capital to support its expansion across Africa
- Tendo enables individuals to start online retail businesses without upfront capital by connecting them to suppliers and managing logistics and inventory
- With the new investment, Tendo plans to scale operations, onboard additional resellers, and expand its presence in key African markets
Ghanaian retail-tech startup Tendo has raised an undisclosed amount of funding from Renew Capital to support its expansion across Africa. Founded in 2021, Tendo enables individuals to start online retail businesses without upfront capital by connecting them to suppliers and managing logistics and inventory.
The platform currently supports over 10,000 resellers in Ghana and Nigeria and has reached more than 42,000 customers with a product catalog spanning fashion, electronics, beauty, and FMCG items.
With the new investment, Tendo plans to scale operations, onboard additional resellers, and expand its presence in key African markets. The company’s app-based platform allows users to launch businesses from their smartphones, targeting digitally connected but underemployed youth.
Daba is Africa's leading investment platform for private and public markets. Download here
Key Takeaways
Tendo represents a rising wave of asset-light e-commerce startups offering accessible business tools to Africa’s informal workforce. In markets where unemployment remains high and startup capital is scarce, platforms like Tendo lower entry barriers by covering inventory, fulfillment, and product sourcing. Its model mirrors successful digital reseller ecosystems in Asia, where social commerce has fueled rapid retail growth. By localizing this model, Tendo is unlocking self-employment opportunities for thousands of micro-entrepreneurs, particularly women and youth. Renew Capital’s investment reflects growing interest in tech solutions that enable scalable livelihoods in Africa. With smartphones and digital payments now widespread, Tendo’s approach—empowering everyday users to become online merchants—positions it to grow in a continent hungry for income-generating opportunities and decentralized retail networks.






Next Frontier
Stay up to date on major news and events in African markets. Delivered weekly.
Pulse54
UDeep-dives into what’s old and new in Africa’s investment landscape. Delivered twice monthly.
Events
Sign up to stay informed about our regular webinars, product launches, and exhibitions.


