Connecting Producers to Global Markets
Nigerian startup NiteonHQ is transforming how manufacturers in emerging markets access international buyers. Founded in 2023 by Dr Tony Nwose, the company operates a commodity marketplace that handles everything from order placement to final settlement.
A Solution Born From Experience
Nwose’s inspiration came from his childhood on his grandfather’s cocoa plantation, where he witnessed firsthand how farmers often received only a fraction of the value they created due to limited access to credit and unreliable logistics. Combining this experience with expertise gained at global tech companies like Google and IBM, Nwose developed NiteonHQ as an end-to-end solution for trade challenges.
The All-in-One Approach
Most existing platforms address only one aspect of the trade process – either listing products, offering logistics, or providing financing. NiteonHQ uniquely integrates all three components through its AI-powered operating system, Kunte. This allows buyers to access verified suppliers with guaranteed delivery while ensuring manufacturers have the working capital they need.
Rapid Growth and Impact
Since launching, NiteonHQ has seen impressive growth:
- Revenue increased from $85,000 in 2023 to over $700,000 in 2024
- Transaction volumes have grown by 300% annually since inception
- The platform now ranks as Nigeria’s third-largest digital export facilitator
Expanding the Vision
While currently focused on exports from Nigeria to key markets like the US, UK, Middle East and Southeast Asia, NiteonHQ aims to expand across Africa and into major global trade corridors. The company’s ultimate goal is to build infrastructure that enables African commodities to flow more efficiently into international supply chains.
One of the biggest hurdles has been shifting suppliers from informal trading systems to structured digital processes – a challenge Nwose views as both validating the market need and creating an opportunity for meaningful impact.