Zambian startup Bosso, a cutting-edge construction e-commerce platform aimed at delivering solutions for the African construction and building sector, has raised a US$400,000 pre-seed round of funding to further develop its platform and add new features.
Founded in 2022 by Chisepo Chirwa, Mukopaje Singogo, Ibn Kafwanka and Salwa Shamapande, Bosso is Zambia’s largest online construction material marketplace for hardware stores and contractors. The platform benefits the construction sector by making quality and affordable building materials available to everyone, everywhere, in Zambia.
“What initially began as an online marketplace that streamlined the sourcing of building materials for hardware stores, has evolved into a holistic B2B and B2C solution to address the 60 million housing deficit across Africa,” Chirwa, Bosso’s CEO told Disrupt Africa.
The startup has so far onboarded over 1,000 hardware stores in Zambia, served over 200 homebuilders with source materials, and delivered construction materials to four out of 10 Zambian provinces. Its US$400,000 pre-seed round was raised from Leonard by Vinci, Launch Africa Ventures, Renew Capital, Change-Com, and various angel investors, and will be used to expand operations in its home market, and build new products.
“The remainder of this year and 2025 will see Bosso transfer the two years of data they have acquired to their AI technology in order to drastically decrease the inefficiencies across the sector. We will be launching a new platform that adds on essential services on top of the materials we already offer. Services such as land conveyance, financing, “save now pay later”, and access to construction companies,” said Chirwa.
He said Bosso was on a mission to source materials for over 5,000 homes in 2025, and would open its seed round in August.
“The housing crisis is real, and Africa needs a Bosso tackling this issue because everyone deserves decent and affordable housing. We want to bring our mission to the entire continent, starting with Southern Africa, as well launch a new AI building materials assistant to accelerate our solution.”
