Felix Manford is the co-founder and CEO of Tendo, a Ghanaian startup backed by Y Combinator (W22) that allows Africans to sell online with no capital. Tendo, founded in 2021, has grown to address significant challenges such as poverty and unemployment, with the CEO and co-founder leading the company to empower Africans, particularly in Ghana and Nigeria, to start online retail businesses without initial capital.
As CEO, Manford identified a critical gap in the African e-commerce landscape: “People who want to sell online must save money, visit hundreds of suppliers to find a trusted one, and risk losing capital by stockpiling inventory.” His Tendo solution eliminates these barriers by connecting aspiring entrepreneurs with verified suppliers using a dropshipping model.
Building Africa’s Social Commerce Platform
Tendo has grown into a comprehensive social commerce platform under Manford’s leadership, allowing tens of thousands of people to start and grow their online businesses without the need for initial capital by connecting them with suppliers, and it now has a robust network of over 10,000 retail resellers. The platform has successfully expanded from Ghana to Nigeria, reaching over 42,000 customers with a wide range of products such as fashion, beauty, electronics, and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG).
Strategic Growth and Acquisitions
Manford has demonstrated strategic leadership through key acquisitions, including Shopa, founded in 2021 by Michael Hammond, Frank Addae, and Ulrich Checkap, which optimizes the distribution of FMCG through its technology platform that connects retailers directly with suppliers and manufacturers with a network of over 3,000 retailers in Ghana.
Manford emphasizes that “there are a large number of female entrepreneurs in Africa.” They have extensive and trusted social networks,” establishing Tendo as a platform dedicated to creating jobs for women and leveraging their natural networks for commerce.
Recent Results and Funding
Tendo received funding from Renew Capital in 2025, demonstrating that Manford’s vision and execution remain strong among investors. The company’s Y Combinator investment and consistent growth trajectory demonstrate his effective leadership in the competitive African e-commerce space.
