What Centi HQ does

Centi HQ (legal entity: Centi Systems Limited, RC 7493855) is a Lagos-headquartered B2B commerce platform founded in 2024 that serves African businesses, primarily Nigerian importers and SMEs. The company operates two integrated products: Centi Procure, an international procurement platform connecting customers to a claimed 30,000+ supplier network across China (including 1688 and Taobao), India, and the UK, with end-to-end logistics including customs clearance, shipping via 51+ warehouses, and pickup from destination hubs; and Centi Hub, an all-in-one business management suite covering invoicing, purchase orders, smart inventory, payments, smart contacts, and a marketplace for local suppliers. The underlying platform is built on React, TypeScript, and NestJS with web and mobile applications, plus a Chrome extension that imports product links from 1688 directly into the sourcing workflow.

The business model is transaction-based, charging a 5% commission on product cost for the Centi 1688 Import tier (₦100K minimum order), per-transaction fees for Smart Sourcing with quality inspection (₦300K minimum), and comprehensive Private Labelling services (₦1M minimum). A Ship Now, Pay Later credit facility, operated in partnership with third-party logistics providers, advances shipping costs and charges 5% monthly interest on overdue balances plus ₦5,000/day storage fees after a 7-day grace window; Centi retains a contractual lien over goods securing the debt. Distribution combines self-serve product-led growth via app.centihq.com with enterprise field sales through a Book a Demo motion, and customer pickup at destination warehouses. Centi is bootstrapped, founder-led, privately held, and reports no institutional investors, M&A activity, or disclosed revenue.

Name

Centi HQ

Legal name

Centi Systems Limited

Website

https://centihq.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Centi HQ is a Lagos-based B2B commerce platform enabling Nigerian businesses to source products from China, India, and the UK and manage domestic operations through integrated procurement, logistics, and business management tools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

B2B Cross-Border Procurement Platform

NAICS

Business Support Services (5614), Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (52232)

SIC

Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)

akta.pro primary industry

B2B Marketplaces & Wholesale Platforms (BPAMAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Procurement, Vendor Management & Purchase-to-Pay (P2P) (FSAGAJAK), B2B/EDI & Supply Chain Process Automation Platforms (HDAEAHAK), B2B BNPL (Invoice Split/Net Terms for SMB Procurement) (FSAKACAJ)

Keywords

• B2B procurement services
• Cross-border commerce
• Import sourcing platform
• Business management software
• Supply chain platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Lagos

HQ country

Nigeria

HQ region

Africa

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Centi 1688 Import Commission: 5% commission on total product cost (excluding shipping fee) for businesses that already have 1688 product links. Minimum order value of ₦100,000.
2. Smart Sourcing Service Fees: Fees for product sourcing, supplier matching, verification, quality inspection, and full procurement and logistics management. Minimum order value of ₦300,000.
3. Private Labelling Services: Comprehensive branding, product research, manufacturing connection, and end-to-end procurement and logistics management. Minimum order value of ₦1,000,000.
4. Shipping Credit Facility: Deferred payment arrangement where Centi advances shipping costs. Includes freight costs, Centi service fee and facilitation markup, insurance (optional), and handling fees.
5. Late Payment Interest: Interest at 5% per month on overdue shipping payments. Storage fees of NGN 5,000 per day after 7 days of arrival notification.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Centi HQ runs a B2B commerce platform that helps African businesses source products internationally (notably from China via 1688.com and other markets) and manage their operations. It combines Centi Procure — an end-to-end procurement service covering supplier sourcing, quality inspection, consolidation, shipping, and a Ship Now Pay Later credit facility — with Centi Hub, an integrated business management suite for inventory, invoicing, team management, and a local supplier marketplace.

Product overview

Centi HQ operates as a B2B commerce platform for African businesses, offering two core integrated products: Centi Hub, an all-in-one business management platform with tools for invoicing, purchase orders, inventory, payments, and a local supplier marketplace; and Centi Procure, an international procurement platform connecting businesses with over 30,000 global suppliers primarily in China (including 1688 and Taobao) for sourcing products to Nigeria with customs clearance and shipping services. The two products integrate seamlessly, allowing imported products from Centi Procure to sync directly into Centi Hub storefronts for easy resale. Additional services include a Chrome extension for importing from 1688, 'Ship Now, Pay Later' deferred shipping payments, and optional premium inspection services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Centi Hub: All-in-one business management platform providing tools for invoicing, inventory management, purchase orders, payments, smart contacts, and marketplace for local supplier sourcing.
• Centi Procure

Products and services

• Centi Hub Integrated business management suite for African businesses that combines inventory tracking, invoicing, team management, and a local supplier marketplace in a single workspace.
• Centi Procure End-to-end international procurement service for African businesses that handles supplier sourcing, quality inspection, consolidation, shipping, and the Ship Now Pay Later credit facility for buyers sourcing from China and other markets.
• 1688 Import Chrome Extension Chrome browser extension that enables African businesses to source and order products from 1688.com directly from their browser, with integration into the Centi HQ procurement workflow.
• Ship Now, Pay Later Deferred-payment financing service for African buyers that lets qualifying customers receive their internationally sourced goods before paying in full, reducing the upfront capital required for cross-border procurement.

Quantifiable outcome

• Quotes delivered within 2-3 business days
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Third-party Logistics ProviderscoreOthersCenti partners with third-party logistics providers to offer the 'Ship Now, Pay Later' deferred payment service for shipping costs. The logistics providers handle freight forwarding and shipping coordination while Centi facilitates the credit facility and payment terms.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• 1688 (Alibaba domestic): China-domicile Alibaba wholesale platform that Centi's Chrome extension integrates with — a supplier-side ecosystem partner rather than a direct sales competitor.

Emerging players

• KoboGo: China-to-Africa cross-border e-commerce logistics and sourcing platform — overlapping buyer corridor (China-Africa) and value proposition on payment/forwarding bundled with sourcing.
• Flutterwave Trade: Pan-African payments and merchant infrastructure extending into cross-border B2B trade and FX — competes indirectly on payment rails and Treasury services that anchor Centi's Naira settlement.
• Africa Imports: Specialist wholesaler importing goods from China to African buyers — overlaps with Centi Procure's China-to-Nigeria corridor but lacks the integrated business-management tooling.

Broad incumbents

• Alibaba.com: Global B2B sourcing marketplace that Centi's 1688/Taobao integration effectively wraps — the dominant cross-border sourcing alternative for Nigerian buyers.
• Global Sources: Long-standing Hong Kong-based B2B sourcing platform serving global buyers — overlapping supplier-buyer marketplace mechanics without the Naira-denominated / African fintech wedge.

Direct peers

• Wasoko (formerly Sokowatch): Pan-African B2B distribution platform for informal retailers with embedded financing and logistics — a regional parallel to Centi's procurement + credit value proposition.
• MaxAB: B2B food and FMCG distribution network across Egypt and North Africa with embedded credit for retailers — analogous end-to-end B2B commerce + working-capital stack, just at a larger scale.
• TradeDepot: Nigerian B2B distribution and retail supply platform serving informal retailers with inventory, credit, and logistics — directly competes with Centi's B2B commerce + financing wedge in the same Lagos customer base.
• Sabi: Nigerian B2B commerce platform for informal retailers, combining sourcing, payments, and merchant tools — overlaps with Centi Hub's marketplace feature and Centi Procure's procurement flows.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CentiHQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centi-hq
• Instagraminstagram.com/centihq

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Centi HQ