Carry1st

Carry1st stands at the forefront of Africa's burgeoning mobile gaming industry, positioned as a key enabler of digital content and games distribution across the continent. The company distinguishes itself with a strategic focus on frontier markets like Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Egypt, and Morocco, underlining its commitment to elevate the gaming and digital experience for a diverse and expanding audience. Founded by Cordel Robbin-Coker, Lucy Hoffman, and Tinotenda Mundangepfupfu, Carry1st adeptly combines gaming, fintech, and Web3 principles to solve substantial challenges in emerging markets. Aimed at engaging and scaling high-quality content, the company develops, licenses, and publishes an array of social games and interactive digital items. Their proprietary payments platform, Pay1st, alongside the Carry1st Shop, provides a seamless user experience by integrating over 200 local payment methods, effectively empowering game developers and publishers in the region by providing them with necessary tools to navigate Africa’s unique market hurdles. Not only does Carry1st create expansive opportunities for local and international game developers but it also aids in monetizing content via an inclusive online marketplace offering a myriad of in-game purchases, thus advancing digital economic growth in Africa significantly.

Technically, Carry1st employs a robust full-stack publishing model allowing developers to maneuver through the complex mobile gaming infrastructure prevalent in Africa, facilitating easier entry to an otherwise complicated distribution network. The company’s repertoire of games includes internationally acclaimed titles like Call of Duty: Mobile and various collaborations with major developers such as Riot Games and Activision, indicating Carry1st’s reputation and strategic proficiency in the mobile gaming sphere. Despite a focus on digital content infrastructure rather than blockchain specifics, Carry1st plays an instrumental role in promoting the web3 ecosystem in Africa by enabling digital transformation through strategic investments and partnerships. This operational tactic not only delivers substantial gains for its stakeholders but also paves the way for international brands to tap into the growing African market, while supporting and fostering local talent. As Africa continues to gain recognition on the global gaming stage, Carry1st's strategic orientation, innovative solutions, and persistent investments affirm its critical position in shaping the future of mobile gaming and digital content distribution on the continent.