Mainstack – Nominated for Start Up of the Year at the MOI Awards

Mainstack Africa is one of the new-generation fintech startups helping Africans sell, earn, and get paid globally without needing a complicated setup. 

The platform allows creators, freelancers, and small businesses to create online storefronts, receive international payments, and manage their sales, all without writing a single line of code.

Founded in 2022 by Ayobami Oyaleke and Olamide Akinola, Mainstack was built out of a simple frustration: African creators could sell their products or services online, but getting paid from abroad was often a nightmare. 

Between high transfer fees, currency limits, and restricted payment systems, most people lost money or opportunities. Mainstack set out to fix that.

With Mainstack, users can easily set up a personalized storefront, list their digital products or services, and start accepting payments from anywhere in the world. 

The platform supports over 135 currencies, allowing buyers to pay in their local currency while sellers receive funds in theirs. It also includes features like payment links, invoicing, analytics, and customer management, making it a one-stop solution for creators.

In 2023, Mainstack gained global attention when it was selected as one of the Top 20 startups at the TechCrunch Startup Battlefield 200. This recognition placed the Nigerian-led company on the international tech radar and highlighted its potential to solve cross-border payment challenges for Africa’s creative and freelance economy.

The startup says its users now span over 120 countries, with growing traction among digital creators, consultants, and small business owners who want to sell beyond Africa. It runs on a simple promise, to let Africans “sell globally without barriers.”

Mainstack’s approach combines innovation with accessibility. Its no-code tools mean anyone from a designer in Lagos to a writer in Nairobi,  can launch a global storefront in minutes. By integrating payments and analytics, the platform eliminates the need to use multiple services or depend on foreign platforms that often restrict African users.

However, like most fintech platforms, Mainstack faces challenges. Managing currency exchange rates, dealing with global compliance, and competing with larger international payment players are ongoing tests. Still, the founders remain confident that Africa’s creator economy is just beginning to grow, and Mainstack intends to lead that charge.