In a landmark move to redefine the quick commerce (Q-commerce) sector in Africa, OjaNow has announced the successful closure of its pre-seed funding round, securing $150,000 at a valuation of $6 million.

The round, led by Dr. Sean Tan, drew participation from a diverse group of prominent investors, including Minister/Head of the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, D.C., Peter Edako,; BFA & Co. Legal, Alkesh Thavrani of Stellar International, Tobenna Ezenwoko, Dr. Enaefe Ziregbe, and Hon. Toju Uduaghan.

The Co-Founder and Chief Operations Officer, OjaNow, Jamal Kasumu, said the new injection of capital will fuel the launch of innovative products such as OjaNowChow Food Delivery, OjaNow Collectibles Item Bidding, and OjaNow Pay, as the company sets its sights on rapid expansion.
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He also added that OjaNow plans to scale its operations across over 100 countries within the next 12 months, a bold move that underscores its ambition to become a global leader in Q-commerce.

Kasumu said the platform is positioning itself as a transformative force in the Q-commerce space, with a mission to provide Nigerians with instant access to essentials and more, around the clock, all while maintaining a commitment to environmental consciousness.

He said the platform, operational 24/7, aims to deliver on-demand services with unprecedented speed and efficiency, setting a new standard for convenience in the region.

Kasumu stated that since its inception just 11 months ago, OjaNow has already made significant strides, amassing over 5,000 verified users and delivering more than 70,000 items, with nearly $150,000 in all-time sales.

He highlighted that the platform’s growth is enhanced by strategic partnerships with leading industry players.

Reflecting on the company’s journey and future prospects, Kasumu stated, “We are truly the only ones doing this thing 24/7, 365 days a year. In the last year, if you wanted an item at 4:00 am or 4:00 pm, we got it to you; we don’t close, we have never closed, and we will never close.”

He said as OjaNow continues to innovate and expand, it stands at the forefront of a revolution in how consumers access and receive essential goods, promising to set a new benchmark for Q-commerce in Africa and beyond.

Kasumu said the founding team of OjaNow is a powerhouse of experience and expertise as he brings over eight years of operational experience, having previously managed a billion-naira revenue-generating company in Nigeria’s cosmetics and essentials sector.

He also listed other team members to include, the Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Emmanuel Joda, who is noted for his work in building the technology for a global blockchain cryptocurrency firm.

Others are the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Demilade Haastrup, who is steering the platform’s diversification into essential services such as healthcare and bill payments as well as the Co-Founder and Human Capital Manager, Alvin Ukpeh, who rounds out the leadership team with a focus on managing the platform’s growing workforce.
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