"I did not know my flour stock was out until a customer told me."
No Inventory Insight
Owners do not know what is selling until shelves are empty.
AI Intelligence for the Marketplace
Every day, small business owners lose money from lack of data
WhatsApp-powered AI that helps any shop owner understand and grow their business. Zero app downloads. Zero training. Zero friction.
Kigali open-air market, morning rush
SokoSense AI on WhatsApp
Sold 12 soaps today. Added flour and sugar stock.
You are up 18% vs last Tuesday. Soaps are still your #1 margin item.
Alert: inventory spend is rising faster than sales this week. Want a restock plan?
Type a message...
0M+
SMEs across Africa
Source: IFC, 2024
0%
WhatsApp penetration
Source: DataReportal, 2024
$0.0T
African informal economy
Source: AfDB, 2024
0,000+
Registered SMEs in Rwanda
Source: RDB, 2024
The Blind Spot Killing African SMEs
50% of SMEs in Rwanda and Cameroon close within five years, not from lack of effort, but lack of data.
Business Survival Snapshot
Many owners operate without daily inventory, pricing, and cash-flow visibility. This creates a predictable survival gap in the first five years.
50%
Close in 5 years
CloseSurvive
SMEs closing within 5 years50%
SMEs surviving beyond 5 years50%
Source: World Bank enterprise and regional SME trend data, 2024.
Real daily decision pressure in local markets
"I set prices by instinct and sometimes sell below my own costs."
Guesswork Pricing
No data on market prices leads to lost margins daily.
"At month end, I cannot explain where my money disappeared."
Cash Flow Blindness
Cash flow crises arrive without warning.
SokoSense: Your AI Business Co-Pilot
A simple WhatsApp-powered AI that helps any shop owner, even without a smartphone or formal education.
Simulated WhatsApp conversation
Vendor: Sold 12 soaps and 6 cooking oils today.
SokoSense: Logged. You sold most between 6-8 PM.
Real product interaction
Daily Logging
Voice or text entry converted into inventory and sales trends.
Explore more feature scenarios
WhatsApp AI
Text or voice your daily sales in French, English, or Kinyarwanda.
SokoSense: Logged. You sold most between 6-8 PM.
Cash Flow Alerts
Real-time insights: You spent 40% more than you earned this week.
SokoSense: Expenses are 40% above sales. Reduce low-turnover stock.
Smart Suggestions
Restock top items, best sales hours, and cost-cutting actions.
SokoSense: Restock soaps before Friday. Demand spikes 24% on weekends.
Competitor Pricing Radar
Market price comparisons updated continuously.
SokoSense: Your price is above market average. Suggested adjustment ready.
How It Works
Designed for real daily market workflows, not dashboards that sit unused.
Step 1
Text or Voice
Send 'Sold 12 soaps today' on WhatsApp.
Step 2
AI Processes
Inventory updates, price comparison, and forecasting.
Step 3
Get Insights
Plain-language alerts and weekly reports.
Multilingual Examples
🇬🇧 English: "Sold 12 soaps today."
🇫🇷 Francais: "J'ai vendu 12 savons aujourd'hui."
🇷🇼 Kinyarwanda: "Uyu munsi nagurishije amasabune 12."
Language Support
A core product differentiator for multilingual market operators.
🇬🇧 English
🇫🇷 French
🇷🇼 Kinyarwanda
Market Moments
Everyday Business Life in Our Markets
A look at the people and places behind small businesses in Rwanda and Cameroon, from busy market aisles to neighborhood shops.
Browse the gallery
Small Business Owner, Buea, Cameroon
Small Scale Businesses in Buea, Cameroon
Central Market, Douala, Cameroon
Small Scale Businesses in Kigali Rwanda
Small Scale Business in Douala Cameroon
Small Scale Businesses in Kigali
Small Scale Business Douala Cameroon
Rural Kigali, Rwanda
Small Business Owner, Buea, Cameroon 2
Open Air Small Scale Businesses in Douala Cameroon 2
Small Creative Business in Kigali, Rwanda
Small Business Owner, Central Douala, Cameroon
Open Air Small Scale Businesses in Douala Cameroon
Medium Size Business Owner in Douala, Cameroon
Medium Size Business Owner, Buea, Cameroon
Medium Size Business Owner, OIC Market, Buea, Cameroon
Small Scale Businesses at Mboppi, Douala, Cameroon
Inventory
Reduce stockouts before peak customer hours.
Pricing
Keep prices competitive without sacrificing margin.
Cash Flow
Get early warnings before weekly cash pressure hits.
The Opportunity We are Unlocking
220,000+
Registered SMEs in Rwanda (Pilot market)
250,000+
Informal traders in Cameroon (Phase 2)
12M+
Addressable SMEs across Africa
80%
Of employment generated by informal sector
$2.9 Trillion African informal economy.
Live. Validated. Ready to Scale.
- Functional MVP available for live demo.
- Primary field research completed in Rwanda and Cameroon, 2026.
- Recognized at ASU Product @ ASU Pitch Competition 2026.
- Early trader feedback from Kigali and Douala pilots is strong.
SokoSense MVP - WhatsApp Commerce Console
Mary K.
Produce Trader, Kigali
"Before SokoSense, I guessed what to restock. Now I know my best-selling items every day."
Jean P.
Neighborhood Shop Owner, Rubavu
"Cash alerts helped me stop overbuying stock. I finally understand where my money goes each week."
Aline N.
Wholesale Trader, Douala
"The price radar showed me where I was too high. After adjusting, customer repeat purchases increased."
Testimonials collected during 2026 pilot conversations; names are partially anonymized.
Pricing Built for Everyone
Freemium WhatsApp
$0
0 RWF / 0 CFA
Basic logging and daily summaries.
SokoSense Pro
$5-8/month
Approx. 7,000-11,200 RWF / 3,000-4,800 CFA per month
Full AI suite, pricing radar, and cash flow intelligence.
SokoSense Business
$12-15/month
Approx. 16,800-21,000 RWF / 7,200-9,000 CFA per month
Multi-location, team access, and API capabilities.
No commitment, cancel anytime.
Pricing FAQ
Do I need a smartphone?
No. SokoSense works through WhatsApp on any phone that supports messaging. Smartphone access improves experience, but is not required for basic usage.
What if I have no internet?
You can still prepare your sales notes offline and send once connected. SokoSense is designed for low-bandwidth, intermittent connectivity environments.
Can I use it in French?
Yes. SokoSense supports French, English, and Kinyarwanda for both text and voice interactions.
Are prices charged in local currency?
Yes. We provide local billing equivalents in RWF and CFA and can support local payment channels during rollout.
Institutional Offering
B2B Data Licensing
Separate enterprise data products are available for MNOs, development banks, and ecosystem partners seeking aggregated market insights.
Built from Lived Experience
Bate Tabenyang Alaine
Founder and Product Lead
MS Global Technology and Development, Arizona State University. Conducted interviews with 45+ traders across Kigali and Douala markets in 2025 to shape SokoSense around real daily market operations.
View LinkedIn
In The Field
Explaining SokoSense Inside a Kigali Shop
Captured during a field session in Kigali, this moment shows SokoSense being introduced in-store through WhatsApp.