Cameroon - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Mansa provides a seamless platform for Africans to browse and purchase items from international online stores, starting with Europe. Offering a free European Union shopping address, a virtual shopping card, and fast delivery through a network of reliable.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

Our mobile application provides Africans with a free European Union shipping address and a virtual prepaid card linked to their mobile money accounts. Users can browse and shop from our extensive list of partner stores, including Amazon, Shein, Zara, Nike, and Decathlon. Once an order is placed using the provided address, it is shipped to our warehouse in France. We work with international freight forwarders and local delivery services to ensure the order reaches the customer's location within 7 days. There are no minimum or maximum order requirements; customers can purchase items ranging from watches to smart TVs and pay based on the weight of their order, ensuring low international shipping fees.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

We believe that if an astronaut can make a round trip from Earth to space and back with a single rocket, then as Africans, we should be able to buy anything we want from around the world and have it delivered to our doorstep. Unfortunately, in 2024, this is still not a reality. As Africans, trying to purchase items not available locally from international online stores is challenging. Many countries in Africa are not included in delivery options, some websites block access based on location, and there are issues with online payments and lengthy, expensive shipping processes.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your startup provides (at least 3).

Our app grants customers access to thousands of European online stores, making it easy to browse across different retailers and track orders. Customers receive a free European Union shipping address, usable at any store of their choice. They also get a virtual prepaid card that can be refilled using their local mobile money account, allowing them to pay at any online store. Orders from international online stores are delivered right to their doorstep, offering a shopping experience comparable to that of local buyers.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your startup’s product/service is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

We are targeting tech-savvy Millennials and Gen Z consumers interested in fast fashion and electronic products, as well as online sellers who buy products from overseas to sell locally through their social media accounts. Our typical user is a tech-savvy female, aged 29, working in the corporate world with an average monthly salary of $1000. She is interested in purchasing quality fashion items from brands like Zara, Pandora, and Bershka and is willing to wait 7-10 days for her packages to arrive.

01.05 When was your company established?

2024-01-01

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

1

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

0

01.09 Please describe the profile of the other owners within your startup (skills, experience, etc.)

Albert Ngodi : Holder of a Bsc in computer science from the University of Buea. Full stack engineer with 5 years of experience building products in fintech, marketplace, sports, and consumer products. [Ex Futa and FanBants (Techstars 2023) ] Jim Bakoume: Holder of a Bsc in Mathematics from the University of Buea. Product Manager with 5 years of experience in product design and management in fintech, e-commerce and consumer products. [Ex Futa, ST Digital (Stanford Seed), and Cosna Afrique (panafrican money transfer platform) ]

01.10 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link(s) here:

https://gomansa.africa ; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXMiGxZxYtQ

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

g) Financial services

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

3

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

02.03.01 My startup contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

3

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification for my startup

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

3

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

3

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

6

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

We have observed a growing number of customers starting their businesses through Mansa, purchasing small quantities of fashion items to resell locally.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

3

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

3

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

2

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

2

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

02.16.01 My startup contributes to the Peace Justice and Strong Institutions goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

At Mansa, we leverage partnerships at every level of our value chain as we beleive much more can be achieved through partnerships

06.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.02 The product/service represents an entirely new type of product/service.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.03 The product/service could be described as a new technology.

5

06.04 The product/service is an improvement on an existing product or service.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.05 The product/service could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

1 - Strongly Disagree

06.06 The product/service responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.07 The product/service is a new version of an old product/service.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.08 Justification for my startup

06.09 Competitive Analysis

While some competitors offer only EU addresses (Colis Expat), others provide virtual cards for online payments (Paysika), and some focus solely on fast delivery (DHL, freight forwarders, friends and family traveling). Mansa stands out by combining all these services into a single app, listing all the favorite online stores for Africans.

11.05 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?