Cityhackz, Nigeria’s first indigenous virtual marketplace focused on digitising physical markets, is pioneering a new model for African commerce by connecting informal traders and producers to global trade through technology, research, and enterprise tools.
The platform bridges the long-standing gap between traditional physical markets and the digital economy by enabling vendors across Nigeria to sell both locally and internationally. Through what the company describes as its “third-way transaction model,” Cityhackz removes the traditional barriers that often prevent small businesses from accessing global markets.
Instead of requiring vendors to navigate complex export registrations, certifications, quotas, and international logistics, the platform manages these processes on behalf of users. This approach allows traders and small producers to focus on selling while Cityhackz handles the structural complexities of cross-border commerce.
Building Commerce Through Research
Beyond operating as a digital marketplace, Cityhackz positions itself as a research-driven commerce infrastructure company. The startup studies how trade operates across Nigeria and broader African markets, particularly within informal and semi-structured economies that power a significant portion of the continent’s economic activity.
This research focus led to the launch of the Informal Market Standardisation Report (IMSR) 2025, Nigeria’s first annual market intelligence report dedicated to analysing and improving informal and emerging trade ecosystems.
The IMSR is designed as a recurring national research framework that provides data-driven insights for businesses, policymakers, and entrepreneurs, helping them better understand how informal markets function and how they can be integrated into formal digital economies.
Transforming Agricultural Trade Through Partnerships
As part of its ecosystem expansion, Cityhackz has also launched CEFMART, an agricultural commerce platform developed in partnership with CEFTER, one of the World Bank’s recognised Centres of Excellence.
This collaboration focuses on improving agricultural market access, reducing post-harvest losses, and strengthening value chains across Nigeria and West Africa. By connecting farmers, processors, and buyers through a structured digital system, the initiative aims to modernise agricultural trade while improving income opportunities for producers.
Vendoor: Operating System for Market Businesses
Recognising that many traders and small businesses lack reliable tools to track and manage their finances, Cityhackz has also developed Vendoor, an all-in-one market operating system designed for small and growing businesses.
Vendoor enables retailers, service providers, and market traders to manage inventory, monitor sales and expenses, and gain real-time insights into their business performance. The platform simplifies daily operations through accessible digital tools that help entrepreneurs better understand their cash flow and business growth.
The platform is now live at
https://vendoor.cityhackz.com.ng and has quickly emerged as one of Cityhackz’s strongest early product launches.
Founded by Young African Builders
Cityhackz was founded in 2024 and officially launched in 2025 under Alpha N&S Technologies. The company was founded by Adeke Msonter Samuel, with Azua Kator Michael and Orbunde Benjamin Aondofa serving as co-founders.
Since its launch, the company has continued expanding its platforms, research initiatives, and enterprise tools, positioning itself at the intersection of technology, research, and African commerce innovation.
AI-Powered Access: Voice, USSD, and Inclusive Commerce
A central part of Cityhackz’s mission is making digital commerce accessible to everyone regardless of location, device capability, or digital literacy.
The platform integrates AI-powered voice search, enabling traders, buyers, and producers to search for products, prices, and market information using natural language. This reduces reliance on typing and complex interfaces, making the system accessible to users with limited literacy or digital experience.
To further extend accessibility, Cityhackz is also integrating USSD-based commerce, allowing traders without smartphones or reliable internet access to interact with the platform using basic mobile phones. Through USSD, users can list products, check orders, and access market information directly from their devices.
By combining AI voice interfaces with USSD technology, Cityhackz is building inclusive digital infrastructure designed to bring millions of offline and semi-connected users into structured digital trade.
In doing so, the company aims to bridge one of Africa’s largest economic gaps , connecting informal markets, which drive a significant portion of the continent’s commerce, to the opportunities of global digital trade.
