Cameroon startup lensX launches online marketplace to formalise African retail

What is lensX launching?

Cameroonian startup lensX Inc. has launched a dual-platform online marketplace designed to standardise and digitalise commerce for businesses and consumers across Africa.

The startup is rolling out two web-based platforms simultaneously. The first, lensX Marketplace, serves as a direct-to-consumer portal. The second, lensX Vendors, is a dedicated business-to-business platform that allows merchants to list, manage, and sell their products online.

The launch represents an attempt to move African retail away from informal channels. In many parts of the continent, businesses rely heavily on WhatsApp, Instagram, and other social media networks to negotiate and close sales. While these channels work, they lack the formal infrastructure of dedicated e-commerce platforms.

"In commerce, many African businesses still rely heavily on social media and informal channels to reach customers, creating a need for more structured digital marketplace infrastructure," lensX founder Ikomi Henry said. "Our approach is to build Africa-first technology platforms addressing these gaps."

How does the business model work?

To date, the venture has been entirely self-funded by Henry. To scale the business, lensX is now looking to secure strategic partnerships and external investment.

The company plans to generate revenue through several streams. These include transaction fees on marketplace sales, premium vendor services, subscription packages, featured product listings, and targeted advertising. However, the startup is not yet generating significant revenue, as its current focus remains on building its user base.

"We are currently focused on building customer and vendor adoption, increasing marketplace inventory and improving the platform based on early market feedback," Henry said.

While the initial rollout is concentrated in Cameroon, the company has broader ambitions. The long-term plan is to expand across the African continent before eventually entering international markets.

What is on the technology roadmap?

The startup's long-term plan includes integrating advanced technology to differentiate itself from existing e-commerce options. Its development roadmap features AI-driven product discovery and augmented reality (AR) shopping features.

If successful, lensX would be among the first e-commerce platforms in Africa to deploy AR, allowing customers to virtually interact with products before buying them.

The path to launch has not been straightforward. Henry noted that the company had to navigate complex regulatory and compliance hurdles, alongside the technical difficulties of integrating various third-party service providers.

Accessing fundamental digital infrastructure also posed a barrier. Many established infrastructure providers on the continent prefer to work with larger, more mature corporations, forcing early-stage startups to prove their operational readiness and credibility before they can access essential services.