Pan-African logistics startup Logidoo has announced its acquisition of Kamtar, an Ivorian road freight platform backed by Toyota Tsusho’s venture capital arm. The deal, announced Thursday, strengthens Logidoo’s presence in West Africa and marks another significant transaction in a growing wave of startup-led acquisitions across the continent.

The acquisition allows Morocco-founded Logidoo to deepen its operational capabilities along the strategic logistics corridor connecting North and West Africa. Kamtar, established in 2018, operates a digital platform in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal that connects over 5,000 transport operators with businesses, including major multinationals and manufacturers.

For Logidoo, the move is a core part of its strategy to build a hybrid logistics model that combines a digital platform with physical infrastructure. By integrating Kamtar, Logidoo aims to create a more seamless and interconnected network to facilitate intra-African trade.

“This integration marks a key step in our group’s growth,” said Tamsir Ousmane Traoré, founder and CEO of Logidoo Group. “It will offer our customers more integrated, reliable, and competitive transport solutions, while expanding our regional coverage.”

Logidoo’s ecosystem includes an international transport platform, an urban delivery service called TexMiles, a logistics software suite named Afridoo, and a B2B marketplace, Doomaket. The company stated that absorbing Kamtar’s road freight expertise will enhance its ability to manage the complete supply chain, from the first to the last mile.

Already operating in Morocco, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, and Tunisia, Logidoo reports having served over 600 clients and completed 200,000 transactions across eight countries.

Kamtar’s journey to acquisition highlights the volatile nature of Africa’s logistics sector. In 2021, the company raised a Series A round involving Mobility 54 (Toyota Tsusho’s CVC), CFAO, and Saviu Ventures. The deal also included a partnership with Kenyan logistics giant Sendy, which was aggressively pursuing a pan-African expansion strategy.

However, despite raising a total of $26.5 million and expanding to four countries, Sendy entered administration in 2023 and ultimately ceased operations. The collapse of its former partner and investor left Kamtar navigating a challenging market, making it a viable target for a consolidating player like Logidoo.

The ‘Buy-Over-Build’ Philosophy Takes Hold

The Logidoo-Kamtar deal is the latest example of a broader trend shaping Africa’s tech ecosystem in 2025. A growing number of startups are opting to acquire competitors or complementary businesses rather than building new capabilities from the ground up.

This “buy-over-build” philosophy is driving a significant shift in the continent’s mergers and acquisitions (M&A) landscape. The strategic drivers vary, from acquiring fintech licenses for market entry and vertically integrating supply chains to consolidating crowded sectors for greater market share.

This M&A activity is most prominent in the continent’s most competitive verticals: fintech and e-commerce/logistics. In recent months, fintechs such as Stitch, LemFi, and Moniepoint have made strategic acquisitions. In the logistics and commerce space, companies like Ora, Chowdeck, and the merged entity of MaxAB-Wasoko have also used M&A to solidify their market positions.

By acquiring a well-established regional player with strong corporate backing, Logidoo is not just gaining market share; it is betting on consolidation as the most efficient path to scaling across a fragmented African market.