This archive report was first published on 8 November 2019.
Charles Ivia, a 21-year-old student at Kenyatta University, has made a name for himself as the brain behind Titan Marketplace, an online platform that connects entrepreneurs to consumers.
Launched in August this year, Titan Marketplace has two sides: the Titan Business App for business owners and the Titan Marketplace for consumers.
According to Charles, the platform serves to connect entrepreneurs to their consumers, thereby improving efficiency for both parties and increasing revenue.
Consumers can communicate with business owners, make orders for products or services, and access reviews done by the public about registered organizations.
Business owners can increase their visibility by including their image and company logo, images and details of products, updates, and more.
Once a consumer makes an order, the business manager instantly receives a notification.
Charles' inspiration for creating the app came from his fascination with technology and research findings on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, which stated that the main challenge faced by local SMEs was lack of markets where business owners can sell their products.
With a team of two friends who handle the mechanical part of the app, Charles spent about Sh200,000 to create the platform, which was funded by his parents and sister.
Charles' goal is to create a micro market, with 100 clients located within a specific area, before expanding to become a continental giant.
Currently, the platform has over 35 businesses signed up and more than 100 downloads for each side of the platform, with a monthly fee of Sh249 charged to business owners every two months.
