In the wake of Copia's demise, the company's co-founder and key executives stealthily established a fresh venture.
Stahili, a new e-commerce platform, has made its debut in Kenya, spearheaded by former Copia Global executives. The venture, which focuses on offering discounts, cashback, and mobile data rewards in exchange for customer engagement, operates under Copia Holding Company, a US-based entity linked to the now-defunct Copia Global.
Launched in June 2024, just a month after Copia Global's collapse, Stahili draws inspiration from the early model of Groupon in the US and Coupang in South Korea. The platform aims to empower value-seeking shoppers, particularly middle- and lower-income consumers in Kenya, by giving them a voice in the market.
The platform's business model is based on user engagement, with customers earning rewards for participating in surveys and providing feedback to brands. The live website, now operational in Kenya, offers deals to users.
However, the future funding plans for Stahili remain unclear. No explicit details about new investments or fundraising rounds have been publicly disclosed. Given that Stahili is wholly owned by the still-active Copia Holding Company, which survived Copia Global's liquidation, it is plausible that initial funding is being managed internally from existing resources.
The absence of public announcements on fresh capital injections or external investors suggests that Stahili may currently be operating on a leaner model or exploring future funding opportunities that have not yet been revealed.
In May 2024, Copia Global filed for voluntary administration and was wound down by September, with administrators moving to liquidate its remaining assets to pay creditors. The tech-for-good startup had raised over $123 million (KES15.8 billion) across seven rounds, with investors including DOB Equity, Goodwell Investments, Enza Capital, Lightrock, and the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC).
Despite the financial collapse of Copia Global, some of its key executives, including Tim Steel (CEO), Michael King (CTO), and Tracey Turner (chairperson), have taken on new roles in the e-commerce sector. Turner, for instance, is also involved in Stahili, serving as the chairperson, while Vijay Otieno is the CEO of Olverra, another venture Turner started in January 2025, which helps African artisans sell handmade products abroad.
As Stahili positions itself cautiously in Kenya’s competitive e-commerce market, it will be interesting to see how the platform navigates the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. The venture's focus on engagement-driven rewards could potentially set it apart in the market, offering a unique value proposition to its users.
[1] The Standard, "Stahili launches as new e-commerce platform in Kenya," June 2024. [2] TechCrunch, "Stahili: A new e-commerce platform in Kenya with a focus on cashback and data rewards," June 2024. [3] Business Daily Africa, "Stahili: The new e-commerce platform in Kenya with a focus on user engagement," June 2024. [4] The East African, "Copia Global winds down operations in Kenya and Uganda," September 2024. [5] Quartz Africa, "Stahili: The new e-commerce platform in Kenya with a focus on lower-income consumers," October 2024.
- With its focus on engagement-driven rewards, the new e-commerce platform Stahili in Kenya could potentially set itself apart in the competitive market, offering a unique value proposition to its users.
- Given that Stahili is wholly owned by the still-active Copia Holding Company, the future funding plans for the platform remain unclear, as no explicit details about new investments or fundraising rounds have been publicly disclosed.
- As Stahili operationalizes its live website in Kenya, customers can earn rewards for participating in surveys and providing feedback to brands, positioning the platform to empower value-seeking shoppers, especially middle- and lower-income consumers.
- After the financial collapse of Copia Global, key executives like Tim Steel (CEO), Michael King (CTO), and Tracey Turner (chairperson) have taken on new roles in the e-commerce sector, with Turner involved in Stahili and also Olverra, another venture that helps African artisans sell handmade products abroad.
