Ghanaian startup Tendo announced on Monday that it has secured a new funding round, which Renew Capital is leading. This round aims to further the expansion of Tendo’s innovative social media e-commerce platform throughout Africa.
This investment fuels Tendo’s mission to empower individuals to start online businesses using only a smartphone and social media accounts upfront inventory costs or logistical hassles.
How Tendo transforms social media into online stores
Tendo’s platform connects wholesalers directly with independent resellers who select products from a vast catalog and market them on social media platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook.
Resellers set their profit margins and promote listings, while Tendo manages payment processing, inventory, and delivery. This zero-capital, zero-risk model enables anyone to earn income from home.
Tendo’s CEO and co-founder Felix Manford explains, “Our mission is to create opportunities for individuals to build businesses with minimal risk.”
He emphasizes that by removing traditional barriers such as upfront investment and logistics, Tendo opens entrepreneurship to a broader population.
Nicholas Clerk, Investment Ecosystem Development Manager at Renew Capital, adds, “Tendo is transforming the way people approach entrepreneurship. Their platform removes traditional barriers to entry, enabling individuals to earn income and build businesses using just their smartphones”.
Expanding digital entrepreneurship across Africa
With Renew Capital’s backing, Tendo plans to scale its platform, onboard more resellers, and expand beyond Ghana into other African markets.
Over 50,000 users in Ghana are already leveraging Tendo’s system to start flexible, home-based businesses, mainly benefiting youth and women seeking new income streams.
Tendo’s model handles the capital and logistics issues of African e-commerce. The platform handles inventory and delivery, letting resellers focus on marketing and sales.
This approach democratizes e-commerce and supports grassroots economic empowerment.
The funding also aligns with Renew Capital’s goal to back startups that combine tech innovation with social impact across Africa’s growing digital economy.
As mobile phone penetration rises continent-wide, platforms like Tendo are poised to reshape local commerce by making entrepreneurship accessible to millions.
