# Topship

**Source:** https://geo.sig.ai/brands/topship  
**Vertical:** Logistics & Supply Chain  
**Subcategory:** General  
**Tier:** Emerging  
**Website:** usetopship.com  
**Last Updated:** 2026-04-14

## Summary

Nigerian cross-border trade logistics platform for African businesses to import/export with customs clearance; $3.3M from YC and Flexport with 50% MoM revenue growth.

## Company Overview

Topship is a Lagos-based logistics platform building an operating system for African cross-border trade — enabling Nigerian and African businesses to seamlessly import and export parcels and cargo worldwide through a digital freight management platform that handles booking, tracking, customs clearance, shipping insurance, and trade financing across air and ocean freight. Backed by Y Combinator, Flexport, and other investors with $3.3 million raised, Topship has achieved approximately 50% month-over-month revenue growth since early 2022, generating revenue through shipping insurance premiums, transaction margins, trade financing fees, and customs clearance services.

Topship's platform aggregates international shipping options (DHL, FedEx, and freight forwarders) into a single interface that makes global shipping accessible to African SMEs that previously had to navigate the fragmented process of finding international freight forwarders, negotiating rates, and managing customs documentation manually. The customs clearance service is particularly valuable for Nigerian importers — Nigeria's customs process is complex and document-intensive, and errors lead to port detention fees that can exceed the value of goods.

In 2025, Topship competes in the African cross-border logistics and digital freight market with Kobo360 (African trucking marketplace), Sendbox, Shipit, and global freight forwarders entering African markets for African SME shipping solutions. Nigeria's import/export volumes are substantial — the country imports $40+ billion in goods annually, and e-commerce exports (Nigerian artisans, fashion designers, and manufacturers shipping internationally) have grown with global marketplace access. Flexport's investment provides strategic access to Flexport's global freight network. YC's backing gives Topship the Silicon Valley tech startup credibility that attracts enterprise partnerships. The 2025 strategy focuses on growing the SME customer base for air freight, expanding ocean freight and container shipping services for larger volume importers, and building the trade finance product that fronts customs duties and freight costs for businesses that need working capital.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is Topship?
Topship is a Nigerian logistics startup founded in 2021 that positions itself as the 'Flexport for Africa.' The company is building an operating system for global logistics to help African businesses export and import parcels and cargo worldwide.

### What services does Topship offer?
Topship provides an Africa logistics platform that focuses on air cargo shipments for import and export. The company generates revenue through shipping insurance, transaction margins, trade financing, and customs clearance charges.

### Who is Topship designed for?
Topship is designed for African businesses that need to export and import parcels and cargo to customers, suppliers, and distributors worldwide. The platform makes it easier for these businesses to manage global logistics operations.

### When was Topship founded?
Topship was founded in 2021 and participated in Y Combinator's W22 batch.

### Where is Topship based?
Topship is based in Lagos, Nigeria.

### How much funding has Topship raised?
Topship has raised $3.3 million in total funding, including a $2.5 million seed round in May 2022 led by Flexport and a $300,000 pre-seed round in March 2021. Investors include Y Combinator, Soma Capital, Starling Ventures, Olive Tree Capital, Capital X, True Capital, and notable individual investors including Mercury CEO Immad Akhund and Dropbox co-founder Arash Ferdowsi.

### What growth has Topship achieved?
Topship has recorded approximately 50% month-on-month revenue growth since January 2022, following their entry into Y Combinator.

### What is Topship's technological approach?
Topship is building an operating system (OS) for global logistics with a focus on air cargo rather than ocean freight. This approach is designed to create the easiest way for African businesses to manage international shipments.

### How does Topship compare to other logistics companies?
Topship positions itself as the 'Flexport for Africa,' drawing comparison to the global logistics platform. Notably, Flexport itself led Topship's $2.5 million seed funding round in May 2022.

### What are Topship's recent developments?
Most recently, Topship raised a $2.5 million seed round in May 2022 led by Flexport and has been experiencing 50% month-on-month revenue growth since entering Y Combinator in early 2022.

## Tags

africa, b2b, saas, supply-chain, transportation

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*Data from geo.sig.ai Brand Intelligence Database. Updated 2026-04-14.*