Why we built this
The global design market is worth billions. But if you're a designer in Nairobi, Lagos, Accra, or Djibouti, most of that money flows past you. Major marketplaces weren't built with African creators in mind — their algorithms don't surface African work, their payment systems create friction, and their fee structures make real income nearly impossible.
Cre8so was founded to answer a simple question: what would a marketplace look like if it started with African creators at the centre?
We keep 15% — creators keep 85%. Every product is reviewed by a human before it goes live. Payouts work with local payment infrastructure. That's the baseline, not a premium tier.
What we stand for
Quality first
Every product is human-reviewed before it goes live. We curate, not aggregate.
Creators keep more
A flat, transparent 15% — creators keep up to 85% and get paid in local currency.
Built in the open
Built for Creators — every product is curated so buyers find work worth paying for.
The platform by the numbers
How we got here
The idea
Abdalla, a Nairobi-based designer, kept losing 40-60% of earnings to international platforms not built for Africa. He started sketching Cre8so on a notebook page.
First creators
Launched in private beta with a handful of handpicked creators to validate the upload, review, and payout flow end to end.
Public launch
Opened to all creators after refining the upload flow, review process, and payout system. The first cohort of verified creators went live.
Growing the marketplace
A growing catalogue of products and a community of creators building real income. Still just getting started.
Who's behind Cre8so
Small, focused, and shipping fast — led by a founder who believes the creative economy should work for everyone on the continent. We're growing the team; come build with us.