Nigerian logistics startup Cargoplug is making it easier for global brands, African retailers, SMEs, and individuals to move goods across borders all over the world, with a focus on the UK, US, China, Turkey and Nigeria.
Founded in Nigeria in 2013 by Kikelomo Fola-Ogunniya and Ujama Akpata, Cargoplug – formerly Jand2Gidi – started with a mission to solve the everyday challenges people face when sending and receiving goods between the UK and Nigeria.
Having both been schooled in the UK, and then moved back to Nigeria, Fola-Ogunniya and Akpata had found it “incredibly frustrating” trying to get everyday items from UK high street stores delivered home.
“The shipping options at the time were either ridiculously expensive, came with hidden charges, or took forever. We were dealing with high minimum weights, surprise fees, and zero transparency; it just didn’t make sense,” Fola-Ogunniya told Disrupt Africa.
“In trying to solve that problem for ourselves, we realised we weren’t the only ones facing it. So we started Jand2Gidi, a business built to make cross-border shipping simpler and more honest, especially for Nigerians ordering from abroad. What started as a personal fix quickly grew into something much bigger, helping individuals and small businesses move goods across borders reliably.”
The startup rebranded to Cargoplug in 2023, but retains the same simple focus – to take the stress out of shipping, make international trade more accessible for everyone, and let businesses and global brands focus on the core of their operations.
“Whether it’s a small package or a full container, we help our clients ship by air or sea, with delivery speeds from the UK to Nigeria as fast as 24 hours,” Fola-Ogunniya said. “We also offer relocation services, haulage, and nationwide delivery across Nigeria.”
Cargoplug’s user-friendly dashboard allows clients to track shipments in real-time, and for businesses, its shipping APIs make it easy to integrate logistics services directly into their own systems.
“Everything we do is built around flexibility, transparency, and making sure our clients get reliable service without the usual logistics headaches,” Fola-Ogunniya said.
Mostly bootstrapped and fuelled by reinvesting its revenues, Cargoplug took part in the Techstars DC accelerator programme last year, securing an additional US$100,000 in funding. Uptake has been “incredible”, according to Fola-Ogunniya.
“Over the last two years, we have watched our revenues double, and we have exceeded deliveries of one million packages. One of the things we’re most proud of is our customer retention rate, which is around 81 per cent,” she said.
“What’s really special is the journey we’ve shared with our community. Some of our earliest Jand2Gidi customers started out shipping just a handbag or a few personal items. Today, many of them have grown into full-scale importers and continue to trust us with large, bulk shipments.”
Cargoplug recently opened its first self-managed UK hub, which allows it to offer more affordable rates, cut down delivery timelines by up to 40 per cent, and expand its reach into the European market.
“The UK plays a really strategic role for us. Beyond being a key shipping route, it also acts as our gateway into Europe, giving African businesses easier access to suppliers, customers, and distribution networks across the continent. It’s all part of our bigger mission to help African entrepreneurs plug into global trade with less stress and more confidence,” Fola-Ogunniya said.
The startup makes money through the shipping fees on each shipment, and thanks to the volumes it moves, it is able to stay competitive while still earning a margin.
“We also generate revenue from service charges when we help clients procure items, and from pickups in origin countries to our hubs across the world for international shipping,” said Fola-Ogunniya. “While we’re profitable on many of our shipments, we’re intentionally reinvesting a large portion back into the business, whether it’s building out our tech, expanding the team, or forming key partnerships to support our growth. We’re in that exciting phase where demand is clear. Now it’s about scaling smartly to meet it.”
