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Powered by People raises undisclosed funding led by Bestseller Foundation
Commerce technology company Powered by People has raised undisclosed funding led by Bestseller Foundation to help independent makers compete in AI driven commerce.
By Propel Africa · 2026-08-20
Powered By People has raised new funding led by the Bestseller Foundation. TechMoran reported on 20 August that existing investors Golden Ventures, Susa Ventures and Altos Ventures also took part. The amount was not disclosed, and the round was not given a name.
What the company does
Powered by People is a commerce technology company with roots in Africa. It provides financing, training, digital tools and market access to independent makers, and its dropship platform links those brands with international retailers. Buyers of its dropship products include the Smithsonian and Nordstrom. The company is also building a trust layer for agentic commerce, which helps AI systems and consumers assess product information.
Products and founders
Its products include CatalogAgent, which optimises catalogues for AI purchasing platforms, and PBP Verified, which validates sustainability, quality, reliability and compliance. The founders are Ella Peinovich, who is CEO, Hedvig Alexander and Alison Phillips.
Reach and purpose
The company works with more than 3,000 maker businesses globally, concentrated in Africa, with producers in about 20 African countries and Kenya as a key market. In 2023 it provided $215,453 in financing to 451 Kenyan makers. Tine Henriksen, Managing Director of the Bestseller Foundation, said the foundation invested to "expand access to markets, income to global suppliers".
At a glance
- Company: Powered By People
- Raised: Not disclosed
- Investors: Bestseller Foundation (lead), Golden Ventures, Susa Ventures, Altos Ventures
- Markets: About 20 African countries, with Kenya a key market
- Key figure: More than 3,000 maker businesses