Chapter I
Great businesses are often hard to find
Many entrepreneurs offer incredible products and services, but they do not always have the reach, tools, or visibility to meet the right customers.
EST. 2021 · SERVING ALL OF AFRICA
Once upon a find.
Your shopping assistant in the African creative marketplace.
Eradicating extreme poverty in Africa by encouraging trade between African communities.
THE MARKETPLACE IS ALIVE
Right now across Africa, people are asking…
“Stylish white off-the-shoulder dress with a flared skirt, made of smooth fabric, fitted bodice, ideal for various occasions”
“Light blue sleeveless dress with a fitted bodice and a flared, pleated skirt, size small (S), for casual or semi-formal occasions, needed by next month”
“Light blue sleeveless A-line dress in one piece, fitted bodice, flared skirt, suitable for casual or special occasions, under 5000 KES, needed by next month, located in Nairobi”
“Casual road trip outfits for women in beige, green, and black, size XL”
“Cream-colored short-sleeve t-shirt, women's size 2XL, brown shorts, size 2XL, looking for both pieces ASAP”
“Flannel pajama bottoms, size 36, one pair, under 2000 KES”
“3-5 trendy and stylish chunky bangles and rings”
“One pair of white leather Converse shoes, size 38, to be delivered in Meru, needed by Sunday”
“Medium black hiking pole, quantity 1, under 2,000 KES, needed this week in Nairobi”
“DIY wooden floating bookshelf for a small space”
“U-shaped neck pillows in various colors including gray, red, yellow, black, blue, and pink, suitable for both adults and children, ideal for travel or relaxation”
“3 pieces of women's basic tops in black, grey, and white, size medium, from Nairobi, needed within this week, budget under 2000 KES”
“3D teeth whitening strips, preferably a product similar to Dr. Dent, with 42 strips for achieving whiter teeth in 30 minutes after the first use”
“Women's white athletic skort for tennis, featuring flared design and high waistband with built-in shorts, suitable for an event”
“Laptop repair”
“whole outfit including a green polo shirt, light blue jeans, and white sneakers”
“capri pants”
“Tailor for ankara dress”
“similar white polka dot dress with a unique neckline and bow detail”
“electric toothbrush that offers great cleaning”
“Crest 3D White Deep Stain Remover toothpaste or any tooth whitening strips you'd recommend”
“Birthday gift for a 20 yrs old girl”
“Good cornrows in Ruaka”
“pimple patches”
“a black and red dress for a wedding”
“anime gifts, a tee shirt or a sweater”
“Jiggle pants”
“Find a good plug for wide leg, cargo and skinny jeans”
“these white combat boots”
“Surprise lunch date reservation”
“Stylish white off-the-shoulder dress with a flared skirt, made of smooth fabric, fitted bodice, ideal for various occasions”
“Light blue sleeveless dress with a fitted bodice and a flared, pleated skirt, size small (S), for casual or semi-formal occasions, needed by next month”
“Light blue sleeveless A-line dress in one piece, fitted bodice, flared skirt, suitable for casual or special occasions, under 5000 KES, needed by next month, located in Nairobi”
“Casual road trip outfits for women in beige, green, and black, size XL”
“Cream-colored short-sleeve t-shirt, women's size 2XL, brown shorts, size 2XL, looking for both pieces ASAP”
“Flannel pajama bottoms, size 36, one pair, under 2000 KES”
“3-5 trendy and stylish chunky bangles and rings”
“One pair of white leather Converse shoes, size 38, to be delivered in Meru, needed by Sunday”
“Medium black hiking pole, quantity 1, under 2,000 KES, needed this week in Nairobi”
“DIY wooden floating bookshelf for a small space”
“U-shaped neck pillows in various colors including gray, red, yellow, black, blue, and pink, suitable for both adults and children, ideal for travel or relaxation”
“3 pieces of women's basic tops in black, grey, and white, size medium, from Nairobi, needed within this week, budget under 2000 KES”
“3D teeth whitening strips, preferably a product similar to Dr. Dent, with 42 strips for achieving whiter teeth in 30 minutes after the first use”
“Women's white athletic skort for tennis, featuring flared design and high waistband with built-in shorts, suitable for an event”
“Laptop repair”
“whole outfit including a green polo shirt, light blue jeans, and white sneakers”
“capri pants”
“Tailor for ankara dress”
“similar white polka dot dress with a unique neckline and bow detail”
“electric toothbrush that offers great cleaning”
“Crest 3D White Deep Stain Remover toothpaste or any tooth whitening strips you'd recommend”
“Birthday gift for a 20 yrs old girl”
“Good cornrows in Ruaka”
“pimple patches”
“a black and red dress for a wedding”
“anime gifts, a tee shirt or a sweater”
“Jiggle pants”
“Find a good plug for wide leg, cargo and skinny jeans”
“these white combat boots”
“Surprise lunch date reservation”
THE EXHIBITS
What makes Sinatabu different
Six ideas the marketplace was built around.
I
AI that shops with you
An intelligent copilot that guides your discovery, matches your needs, and remembers what you like.
II
Shop privately, ask freely
Post a find anonymously. Only the businesses that can help see your request.
III
Trusted shops and personal shoppers
Every seller is vetted through social and identity checks before they can bid.
IV
Everything in one place
Products, services, professionals, and personal shoppers — one marketplace across 54 countries.
V
Built around the shopper
You define exactly what you want. Sellers come to you, not the other way around.
VI
A marketplace where businesses compete for you
Shops and personal shoppers bid to win your find, so you see their best offer upfront.
ONCE UPON A FIND…
Shopping in Africa has always had one problem: the right buyer and the right seller rarely meet at the right time. Sinatabu changes that.
Chapter II
Trust is still too fragile
Too often, shoppers are left to figure out credibility on their own. Sinatabu is built to make discovery feel safer and more reliable.
Chapter III
Every need begins with a question
Sometimes shoppers know exactly what they want, but do not know where to start. Sinatabu lets them ask privately and clearly.
Chapter IV
Then the right sellers come forward
Businesses and personal shoppers respond to real demand instead of shouting into the void.
Chapter V
AI helps make the right connection
Our intelligent matching layer helps pair finds with vetted entrepreneurs, making shopping more efficient, personal, and trusted.
I needed a custom gele for my sister's wedding. I asked once, and five tailors came forward. I picked one in Lagos. The gele was perfect.
★★★★★
Before Sinatabu, I was invisible. Now buyers from Nairobi to Cape Town find my kente.
★★★★★
I love matching people to the right souk, the right artisan. The platform gave my hustle a home.
★★★★★
I wanted a soapstone sculpture for my mother's birthday. I described it and a carver in Mutare sent me three. She cried.
★★★★★
The bidding is honest. If I can fulfil a find, I bid. If I cannot, I let someone else take it. That is what a marketplace should be.
★★★★★
Privacy was what won me over. I did not want a thousand people seeing what I was looking for. I asked, and the right people answered.
★★★★★
OUR STORY THIS FAR
Milestones on the wall
-
Mar 2021Soft launch
The first version of Sinatabu goes live for a small circle of users.
-
May 2021Public launch
The marketplace opens to everyone.
-
Oct 20211,000 users
The first thousand shoppers and sellers make the marketplace their own.
-
Nov 2021Uganda, Tanzania & Rwanda
Sinatabu crosses the Kenyan border into three new countries.
-
Mar 2022Sinatabu for Work launch
A dedicated workspace for corporate procurement.
-
May 2022Malawi, Zambia & Zimbabwe
Southern Africa joins the marketplace.
-
Mar 2023Sinatabu Lifestyle launch
A new home for fashion, art, décor and lifestyle finds.
WHY WE BUILT IT
“Eradicating extreme poverty in Africa by encouraging trade between African communities.”
Sinatabu exists to enhance market visibility, connect small businesses with consumers, and improve access to the vital resources they need to grow. By fostering entrepreneurship and investment in local enterprises, we hope to contribute to poverty alleviation, sustainable livelihoods, and shared economic progress — leaving no one behind.
Your next find is waiting.
Ask anything. The marketplace will answer.