Second Act of Daily-Copia's Founders Unveiled

Second Act of Daily-Copia's Founders Unveiled

In the wake of Copia Global's collapse in May 2024, its co-founders, Tracey Turner and Timothy Steel, have returned with a new venture, Stahili Commerce. This e-commerce platform, wholly owned by Copia Holding Company, is based in Kenya and offers rewards such as cashback, discounts, and mobile data for user engagement.

Unlike Copia, which focused on agent-based distribution networks and in-house delivery, Stahili prioritizes user interaction and instant rewards. This shift in strategy aims to create a more sustainable revenue stream by leveraging user engagement.

The business model of Stahili is centered around user engagement through rewards. Users are invited to fill surveys about Kenyan brands, with the opportunity to earn rewards such as airtime and data. Additionally, the platform has a built-in viral loop system, encouraging users to invite friends for more insights.

The launch of Stahili represents a departure from Copia's traditional e-commerce model. The co-founders have likely carried over lessons about financial sustainability and market adaptability from their experience with Copia, aiming to create a more successful venture with Stahili.

Meanwhile, M-KOPA Kenya, another e-commerce platform, is facing a lawsuit from its former manager, Elizabeth Njoki. She alleges racial bias in the company's 2019 equity restructuring, with Kenyan staff being assigned to a weaker share class while a more powerful share class was mostly reserved for expatriates and foreign investors. M-KOPA has denied these claims, insisting that share allocations were based on role and seniority, not race.

In other news, the Nigerian Immigration Service passport application portal is an example of a digital system that has improved over time, despite occasional disruptions. The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in Nigeria has also launched an Intelligent Company Registration Portal (iCRP), promising real-time name reservations, one-hour registrations, and automated TIN generation. However, some users have reported issues with the iCRP, including unsuccessful registrations, non-reflecting payments, inability to verify certificates, and missing Tax Identification Numbers (TINs).

Investment continues in the African tech sector, with MTN South Africa investing R300 million ($17 million) into network infrastructure upgrades in Gauteng. This investment is focused on acquiring new base stations, 5G rollouts, and technical enhancements across over 70 network sites.

Finally, MEST Africa has opened applications for its 2026 AI Startup Programme. This 12-month training and incubation programme for West African software developers aged 21-30 aims to foster the growth of AI startups in the region. Insights Market Researcher, a tool for finding and analyzing African tech and business data, is also launching soon. Users can join the waitlist to be the first to try it.

As the tech landscape in Africa continues to evolve, these new ventures and investments highlight the potential for growth and innovation in the region.

1. Tracey Turner and Timothy Steel, co-founders of Copia Global, are prioritizing user interaction and instant rewards within their new venture, Stahili Commerce, to create a more sustainable revenue stream, differentiating it from Copia's focus on agent-based distribution networks and in-house delivery.
2. Stahili Commerce, based in Kenya, provides rewards such as cashback, discounts, and mobile data to users who engage with the platform, which also features a built-in viral loop system, encouraging user referrals for further insights.
3. In an effort to create a more successful venture, the co-founders of Stahili may have applied lessons learned about financial sustainability and market adaptability from their experience with Copia's collapse.
4. Another e-commerce platform, M-KOPA Kenya, is facing a lawsuit over allegations of racial bias in its 2019 equity restructuring, with former manager Elizabeth Njoki claiming that Kenyan staff were assigned to a weaker share class while a more powerful class was mostly reserved for expatriates and foreign investors.
5. Despite occasional disruptions, the Nigerian Immigration Service's passport application portal and the Corporate Affairs Commission's Intelligent Company Registration Portal (iCRP) are examples of digital systems in Africa that have improved over time, though users have reported issues with the iCRP, including unsuccessful registrations, non-reflecting payments, issues verifying certificates, and missing Tax Identification Numbers (TINs).
6. MTN South Africa is investing R300 million ($17 million) into network infrastructure upgrades in Gauteng, focusing on acquiring new base stations, 5G rollouts, and technical enhancements across over 70 network sites.
7. MEST Africa has opened applications for its 2026 AI Startup Programme, targeting West African software developers aged 21-30, and Insights Market Researcher, a tool for finding and analyzing African tech and business data, is set to launch soon, with users able to join the waitlist for early access.

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