Trenderz Founders Shares Insights on Shifting Business Model

Abidjan-based startup Trenderz has undergone a significant transformation from an influencer marketing agency to a creator economy infrastructure platform. Kim Tran, co-founder and CEO of Trenderz, explained this strategic shift in a recent interview with Launch Africa Ventures’ Lina Kacyem.

Trenderz initially launched in 2024 as a hybrid agency and SaaS model focused on connecting hospitality businesses with content creators. The company facilitated collaborations and provided tools for managing influencer campaigns. However, Tran realized they were solving the wrong problem - clients weren’t seeking impressions or engagement rates but rather tangible conversions like bookings and revenue.

“Every conversation with a hotel director ended the same way: ‘We don’t want to see views or likes. We want customers—and know which creators actually fill our rooms,”’ Tran recounted.

This insight led to Trenderz pivoting to a transactional, data-driven platform that tracks creator recommendations from initial click to confirmed booking and commission payment. The agency layer has been eliminated as the company now focuses on providing infrastructure for measurable ROI in creator marketing.

The new model is already deployed across five African markets, with plans for further expansion. Trenderz’s approach addresses a critical gap in the market by connecting creators directly with businesses while ensuring transparent tracking and attribution of results.