The verdict in three sentences
The marketplace tier pays the referral partner 10%, just behind institutional in percentage but on very high tickets. A Premium marketplace at 12M FCFA yields 1.2M FCFA in commission on a single deal. The target in Nairobi: entrepreneurs and investors wanting to launch a local Jumia, a local Fiverr or a real estate platform.
The marketplace scale: 10% on complex platforms
Marketplaces are the most technical projects: multi-vendor, automatic Wave/Orange Money payment split, commission system, vendor dashboards. Kolonell tickets range from 2.5M to 20M FCFA and beyond.
| Marketplace tier | 2026 ticket | Commission 10% | Sales cycle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 2,500,000 FCFA | 250,000 FCFA | 2-3 months |
| Starter high | 3,500,000 FCFA | 350,000 FCFA | 2-4 months |
| Growth | 5,000,000 FCFA | 500,000 FCFA | 3-4 months |
| Growth high | 7,000,000 FCFA | 700,000 FCFA | 3-5 months |
| Premium | 12,000,000 FCFA | 1,200,000 FCFA | 4-6 months |
| Premium high | 20,000,000 FCFA | 2,000,000 FCFA | 5-6 months |
Few deals, big amounts: 3 marketplaces a year can exceed an executive's annual salary in Nairobi (2026 order of magnitude).
Who are the marketplace project owners?
The marketplace referrer doesn't canvass SMEs: they target ambitious project owners, often already funded.
| Target profile | Typical project | Key argument |
|---|---|---|
| Tech entrepreneur | local Jumia | automatic Wave/OM payment split |
| Diaspora investor | niche platform | configurable vendor commissions |
| Senior freelancer | local Fiverr | vendor dashboards + reviews |
| Real estate agency | listings portal | multi-agent, geolocation |
| Cooperative | agri marketplace | weekly vendor payouts |
The winning pitch: the Kolonell marketplace handles the automatic split (e.g. 85% vendor / 15% platform) and Wave/OM payouts, exactly what project owners fear building themselves.
Mini case study
Aminata, a digital consultant in Nairobi, knows three ambitious entrepreneurs in her LinkedIn network. Over 5 months she hands Kolonell a services marketplace project (Growth, 5M FCFA) and a real estate marketplace (Premium, 12M FCFA). Commissions: 5M x 10% + 12M x 10% = 500,000 + 1,200,000 = 1,700,000 FCFA on two deals. With a third Starter project signed at year-end (250,000 FCFA), she reaches 1.95M FCFA in marketplace referrals for the year.
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The Kolonell referral program: where marketplace fits
Marketplace is the second-best-paid tier by percentage. Here are the four public rates:
| Tier | Commission | Typical rhythm |
|---|---|---|
| Showcase | 15% + 5% recurring | high volume, short cycle |
| E-commerce | 12% | medium, medium cycle |
| Marketplace | 10% | few deals, big amounts |
| Institutional | 8% | rare, massive tickets |
If you move among entrepreneurs and investors, marketplace combines high amount and reasonable cycle (2 to 6 months), an excellent balance.
FAQ
Why does marketplace pay 10% and not 15%? Because the tickets are far higher: 10% of 12M FCFA = 1.2M FCFA, well above a showcase commission. The percentage drops, the absolute amount climbs.
What is the marketplace sales cycle? From 2-3 months (Starter) to 5-6 months (Premium), as these are technical projects with detailed specifications.
What should I highlight to the project owner? The automatic Wave/Orange Money payment split and vendor payouts: the technical point entrepreneurs fear most.
How many deals to earn well? Three marketplaces a year can exceed an executive's annual salary (2026 estimate). Value comes from the amount, not the volume.
Do I need technical skills? No. You identify the project owner and hand over; Kolonell handles the architecture, split and dashboards.
Let's talk about your project. Know an entrepreneur wanting to launch their platform? Become a 10% Kolonell marketplace referrer. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
