Flagship service
Channel-Partner & Distributor Sourcing
For European companies ready to sell in Africa: we find, vet and shortlist the distributors and channel partners most likely to move your product — so you meet real candidates, not a long list of unknowns.
Discuss this serviceWhat it is
Finding a distributor is easy. Finding one who is solvent, has the right network, and will actually follow through is not. Karagateway runs the on-the-ground process that desk research cannot replace: we map the distributor landscape in your target market, visit the candidates, check references and capacity, and hand you a shortlist with a clear recommendation on each. We then stay involved through first contact, negotiation and the first shipments — so early problems get caught before they become expensive ones.
Example: A European manufacturer of medical consumables wants to enter Nigeria and Tanzania. Rather than relying on trade-fair contacts or cold outreach, they engage Karagateway. We identify the active distributors in each market, visit their operations, speak to their existing suppliers, and deliver a ranked shortlist. The manufacturer enters negotiations knowing exactly who they are dealing with.
This is for you if…
- You have a product ready for an African market but no trusted local partner to sell or distribute it.
- You've had a distributor agreement fall through because the partner couldn't deliver at the agreed scale.
- You're choosing between several candidates and have no reliable way to compare them.
- You want to move faster than a two-week scouting trip allows, without cutting corners on due diligence.
Why it matters
Shortlist, not a long list
You see only the candidates who have passed our vetting — visited, referenced and capacity-checked.
Due diligence that travels
We do the checks that can only be done in person: site visits, reference calls, operational capacity, financial standing.
Fewer false starts
A frequent failure in African market entry is a signed agreement with a partner who cannot deliver at scale. This service is designed to prevent that.
Continuity through first shipments
We stay involved past the handshake — monitoring early orders so the relationship holds under real conditions.
How we help
Define the partner profile
We start with a scoping call to agree what a good partner looks like — geography, sector experience, scale, languages, regulatory capacity.
Map the landscape
We identify who operates in your category and market, at what scale, and with what track record.
Vet the candidates
Site visits, reference calls with existing suppliers, financial capacity checks and regulatory standing — all conducted in-market.
Shortlist and present
You receive a clear report on each shortlisted candidate, with our assessment and a recommendation.
Support first contact
We facilitate introductions, join the first calls or meetings, and help you navigate negotiation without missteps.
Monitor first shipments
We stay close to the relationship through the first orders — catching and resolving issues before they escalate.
What you receive
- A longlist of active distributors and channel partners in your target market
- A vetted shortlist with a written assessment of each candidate
- Site visit notes, reference summaries and capacity findings
- A clear recommendation with rationale
- Introduction support and presence in first meetings
- Monitoring through first shipments, with a written handover at close
How engagement works
- Project-based, scoped per market and product category
- Scope and deliverables agreed in writing before work begins
- Fees are discussed during your consultation and depend on the number of markets and depth of vetting required
We find and vet your partners. We never negotiate your commercial terms.
Karagateway does not sign distribution agreements, fix prices or make commercial commitments on your behalf. Every agreement is negotiated and signed directly between you and your chosen partner. This keeps every engagement transparent and your business fully in control.
Ready to meet the right partners?
Book a free 30-minute consultation. We'll discuss your market, your product category and what a vetted shortlist would look like for you.