Airduka,a Kenyan online marketplace has beat other competitors to become the overall winner of E-Commerce Startup of the year in this year’s annual Kenya E-Commerce Summit and Awards sponsored by Finserve Africa.
The company had been nominated alongside more than 200 companies in 30 different categories .Airduka has been recognised for its role in digitising small businesses in the country as studies have shown that more than half of Kenyan consumers have been shopping online.
While commenting on the award, the firm’s CEO A’Maalik Varvany said the award recognises its ongoing efforts to help take more small business owners into the online space.
“Airduka helps small businesses reach more people online. The platform is welcome to goods and services sellers. The platform has all manner of sellers; from plumbers who can fix damaged pipes to dealers selling high-end electronics,” Varvany said.
The startup was also recognised for connecting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to local buyers.
“Many business owners have unique and useful solutions, but no one knows. Some are in remote places that buyers would never reach if it were not for the online space,” Varvany added.
Airduka was founded in 2021 by serial entrepreneur Hasnain Noorani to give businesses online visibility.The platform has several features, including an e-catalogue that enables sellers to showcase all their products online.
“The e-catalogue connects sellers and buyers on WhatsApp to enable both parties to trade directly. Each product on the catalogue also goes through search engine optimisation to give a seller’s product greater visibility,” the CEO added.
Unlike other online marketplaces, Airduka charges no commission on products sold on the platform.To sell on the platform, a trader needs only to create a profile on the Airduka website, register their business and select a preferred monthly package that costs as low as KSh 200.
“After that, you only need to follow simple instructions to take your small business online,” he said.
