ANKA, the pan-African software-as-a-service (SaaS) and commerce infrastructure company, has announced its acquisition of select assets by the Global Shop Group for an undisclosed sum. The strategic acquisition marks a major push to scale African and diaspora-led businesses onto the global retail stage, leveraging ANKA’s established infrastructure and Global Shop’s extensive experience in international fashion and apparel.
Founded in 2016 by Moulaye Tabouré, Abdoul Kadry Diallo, and Luc Perussault-Diallo (formerly known as Afrikrea), ANKA has built a full-stack platform offering marketplace, payment (Anka Pay), and logistics (Anka Shipping) solutions. The platform has been a key enabler for African creative entrepreneurs, facilitating over $60 million in transaction volume and supporting merchants across 47 African countries to reach customers in over 170 countries.
The company’s impact on the African creative economy is exemplified by a BBC profile of Nigerian entrepreneur Shakirat Arigbabu of Keerah’s Fashion Cave, who reportedly sold over $500,000 worth of prom dresses to customers in the U.S. using the ANKA platform.
New Leadership and Global Vision
Global Shop Group, the acquiring entity, is led by Matilda Ceesay, a seasoned executive with deep experience in fashion, apparel, and strategy, having held roles at prominent global firms including Nike, American Eagle, Ralph Lauren, and the Boston Consulting Group (BCG).
“At ANKA, we’ve spent years building the infrastructure, the rails that make global African trade possible,” said ANKA co-founder Moulaye Tabouré. “Global Shop’s strategy and its team’s deep experience in fashion… are exactly what was missing to take ANKA to the next level.”
ANKA will continue to operate autonomously, maintaining its brand, culture, team, and existing customer base. However, the co-founders will transition out of the business, with Ceesay and the Global Shop team taking the lead on scaling the platform. The deal is set to accelerate Global Shop’s strategy of building a multi-brand ecosystem rooted in best-in-class commerce infrastructure.
The startup had previously raised approximately $13.5 million from investors, including the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Proparco. ANKA’s recent recognition included a feature in Bloomberg’s list of the top 25 African startups to watch in 2025.
