The investment was made through Rebel Seed’s Edge Fund, which targets early-stage founders in Africa’s Secondary Cities with ticket sizes ranging from $10,000 to $50,000.

Shoptreo, co-founded by Emmanuel Tochukwu Jacobs and George Uteh, is unlocking value in informal markets and underserved production ecosystems like the Aba Artisanal Leather Cluster—one of Africa’s largest hubs for handcrafted leather goods—by equipping artisans with digital storefronts, integrated logistics, payments, and inventory tools to efficiently meet global demand.

Beyond marketplace support, it offers strategic inventory financing to trusted distributors and bulk buyers, enabling them to scale, fulfill large orders, and overcome cash flow bottlenecks.

By blending fintech innovation with grassroots manufacturing, Shoptreo is shaping the future of African commerce.

, said:

“The Aba Artisanal Leather Clusters represent a major economic and commercial opportunity which, if properly harnessed through digital transformation, will unlock wealth and prosperity at an insane level. The Shoptreo team has demonstrated enough hunger, drive, and execution, which we believe are the right combination of attributes required to win.”

added:

“Rebel Seed Capital’s vision aligns with Shoptreo’s goal of driving value at underrepresented segments. The funding will help us continue our expansion drive while taking Aba Leather products global.”

With this investment, Shoptreo plans to double down on product development, onboard hundreds of new artisans, and deepen integration with logistics and financial service providers to ensure seamless order fulfillment and cross-border commerce.

A share of the investment will also go into expanding their financial retail services—particularly inventory financing—to equip distributors and bulk buyers with the capital to scale purchases of Made-in-Aba products, boosting liquidity and accelerating growth across Africa’s informal manufacturing sector.

Through its Edge Fund, Rebel Seed invests between $10,000 and $50,000 in high-potential ventures that are often overlooked by mainstream investors.

In addition, Shoptreo offers inventory financing to trusted distributors and bulk buyers—providing them with the capital needed to stock up on locally made products and scale their operations.

Shoptreo is on a mission to bridge Africa’s informal markets with the digital economy, driving growth through technology and inclusive financial services.