Africa is a land of opportunity for agriculture, crafts and technology. These areas are brimming with potential just waiting to be tapped. However, the compartmentalisation of markets from one country to another limits the possibilities for business growth, which often discourages investors. Aware of this reality, Nigerians Adetola Onayemi and Tope Obanla decided to combine their strengths and expertise to create Norebase, a technology start-up whose main mission is to create a single digital infrastructure to help African businesses operate anywhere in Africa with ease.
A simple technological solution to complex problems
It all starts in 2019, when Adetola Onayemi is invited by the Nigerian pre-incubation centre CCHub (Co-Création Hub) to take part in a discussion for the African continental free trade area (ZLECAf) in Kigali. He is also due to attend the creation of theAfrica Technology and Creative GroupOne of the projects put forward was the creation of a digital platform to help technology companies develop across Africa. One of the projects put forward was the creation of a digital platform to help technology companies develop across Africa. The idea of building this platform quickly appealed to young entrepreneur Onayemi, who then launched an initial experimental phase with his co-founder Tope Obanla. Within 24 hours, the launch had attracted 629 responses from interested companies.
Unfortunately, a few weeks later, the Coronavirus pandemic forced Onayemi and Abanla to put their project on hold. It would not be until February 2021 that the platform would finally see the light of day under the name "Country Africa".
To demonstrate their desire to unite Africa economically into a single country, the machine was launched to help companies wishing to expand their activities beyond the borders of their country of origin. From then on, a Ghanaian entrepreneur could use a computer to set up his business in any other African country: registering, opening bank accounts, registering trademarks and patenting intellectual property. The first customers were soon established in Ghana, Kenya and South Africa.
What's more, to optimise the platform for search engines, the young innovative company changed its name to officially become " Norebase "on 31 May 2021. Norebase, which is in fact an acronym for "New ventures, Operations, Registrations, Expansions Base", reflects the idea of a base for new ventures, operations, registrations and expansions across African countries. Today, major brands such as PATRICIA, SEND, The AfroPreneur and BRASS trust Norebase to deploy across the continent.
A clear business model and bold objectives
Norebase has set itself an ambitious challenge: to create a single African market by breaking down the barriers between the two continents. administrative, legal and tax barriers between countries. This enables more young start-ups to conquer new markets and become continental champions of wealth and job creation throughout Africa. To provide such services, the start-up charges for its services according to the country in which its customer wishes to develop.
In this regard, Onayemi confided that one of their priority objectives remains to ensure that the cost of registering a company in any country in Africa does not exceed 500 dollars. "...we are constantly lowering prices, for example, our price for Kenya between March and December 2021 has been reduced by almost 70 %", said the founder in an interview with Techcabal.
So Norebase is contributing to Africa's economic growth. And the start-up is recognised as a tradetech This innovative concept is in line with the sustainable development goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015. The concept is generating a lot of buzz, and in May 2022, the Nigerian startup announced that it had raised $1 million in pre-seed funding for its expansion in Africa. Norebase aims to be an impact company that "now has a growing team with the same energy, commitment, excitement and drive to develop technology that makes you discover Africa as one market," Onayemi said on Twitter.
One of Africa's greatest challenges is to break down the economic borders that block trade between African countries. In less than a year of existence, Norebase has made a name for itself on this front, with a unique platform that enables companies to set up or develop their business anywhere in Africa without major administrative difficulties.
