Startup Story
Daphne Kasambala is the founder and CEO of Meekono, a wholesale marketplace for African creatives seeking global trading opportunities. A multifaceted entrepreneur and former corporate banker with experience gained with major institutions in Europe and Africa, Daphne is a relentless problem-solver and collaborator who is determined to play a key role in putting African creativity on the map. Daphne considers herself a global citizen, and has recently returned after many years abroad to focus on growing her business. One of Daphne’s proudest moments was scaling Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise funds for a revolving micro-loan facility for African women micro-entrepreneurs. Her business was launched in 2021 and today employs 5 people.
LoA spoke to Daphne about her passion for supporting passionate, talented artisans and connecting them with buyers.
What does your company do?
Meekono is a business-to-business (B2B) wholesale marketplace that streamlines the sourcing of premium, uniquely African lifestyle products. We connect passionate artisans with global commercial buyers.
“We connect passionate artisans with global commercial buyers.”
“We streamline sourcing for buyers, easing their struggle to find, order and ship quality African products.”
What inspired you to start your company?
I previously ran a retail brand that sourced and sold African fashion and lifestyle products to women around the world for seven years. Meekono was born out of frustration and sheer determination, fueled by a desire to empower African artisans and entrepreneurs. Meekono emerged as a solution to the recurring challenges I faced as a buyer. Sourcing products from 15 different African countries exposed me to common issues that demanded a collective approach to resolution. No one else was doing it, so I decided to take the bull by the horns and assemble a team to solve these problems.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
At a time when demand for African cultural and creative output is growing and consumers are increasingly demanding culturally rich and ethically-made products, retailers, boutiques and other businesses seeking to stay competitive and differentiate themselves by sourcing from Africa finally have a platform where products are pre-vetted and sellers are supported to meet global trends and production standards.
We streamline sourcing for buyers, easing their struggle to find, order and ship quality African products. As a trusted partner, we offer transparency and risk mitigation. With a focus on "Handmade in Africa", sustainability and employment creation, our goal is to promote cultural appreciation and empower marginalized communities.
“With a focus on ‘Handmade in Africa’, sustainability and employment creation, our goal is to promote cultural appreciation and empower marginalized communities.”
Tell us a little about your team
Led by Daphne, the team of five is composed of:
Zidza, who was first in the door in Meekono’s early days, manages our Marketing and Social Media strategy. Besides being an Afrophile, Zidza’s dream is to visit the Far East and experience its culture in real life.
Valerie took a 180-degree turn from a career in Law to become a Product Designer and UX/UI expert. She’s responsible for making sure that Meekono.com platform works like a dream for our users.
Meshach, our self-confessed Tech and Data nerd and lover of all things Afrofuturism, keeps us all abreast of developments in the ‘virtual realms’ and manages all integrations and applications we utilize as a team.
Tamanda, who moonlights as a published poet, recently joined Meekono as our dedicated Customer Success manager, and her focus every day is to make sure that we delight our customers.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
I am the daughter of a teacher and an economist, so announcing that I had started a business came as quite a jolt to my Mom who couldn’t grasp why I was wasting my education and experience, and asking when I would return to a proper job. I left over 15 years in Banking in 2012, embarking on my entrepreneurial path, launching a multi-brand retail brand dedicated to contemporary African fashion and lifestyle products. Over seven years, we celebrated African culture through pop-ups, exhibitions, and a boutique in London's Portobello. Working closely with over 100 designers and producers from 15 African countries, I gained invaluable insights into the challenges they faced. Sapelle's closure prompted a return to the drawing board, where I honed solutions to empower sellers to overcome hurdles in the value chain and embrace global wholesaling opportunities.
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
My vision for Meekono is ambitious, what drives me is experiencing the untapped or under-utilized potential within the African creative manufacturing sector. Over the past decade, I've been inspired by the stories of boundless creativity, unwavering passion, and remarkable resilience exhibited by each producer we collaborate with.
The platform's potential to be a major player in producers’ business activities excites me, as I envision Meekono becoming the preferred partner for global buyers while playing a vital role in generating employment opportunities at the grassroots level across the continent.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
Being able to determine where I spend my time, focus and energy.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Buckle up for a tough but exhilarating ride! The early days of start-up are challenging. You’ll be planting seeds and waiting for the rain to fall. Make sure your intentions and your passion are clear and well-placed, because there will be days that that’s all you have in the tank to sustain you.
Contact or follow Meekono
Email: daphne@meekono.com
Website: http://www.meekono.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/meekonowholesale?mibextid=ZbWKwL
Twitter: http://twitter.com/meekono_?t=g3R96wrN-F22YIOc5j-WQQ&s=08
Instagram: http://instagram.com/meekono_wholesale?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Pinterest: http://pin.it/5RczrQq
YouTube or Vimeo Video: https://youtu.be/XdG4kXcAvow - Interview with the CEO
https://youtu.be/nje9rPwAN70 - Meekono Marketplace Information
https://youtu.be/tmgsC2TWjME - Meekono Values
Why LoA loves it…
One of the biggest challenges for artisans on the African continent is to connect with buyers and to complete the end-to-end transaction including delivery to the customer. Daphne Kasambala is creating a solution to that challenge, streamlining the process and making it easier for artisans to sell their wonderful products to customers who appreciate their work around the world. A much needed service making an impact in the lives of artisans in the community. — Melanie Hawken, founder & ceo, Lionesses of Africa