LadX Marketplace
As the Technical Lead and Software Engineer on a 5-person team, I am leading the development of LadX Marketplace — a pan-African e-commerce platform that enables users to buy goods across borders with affordable and reliable delivery. I am spearheading both front-end and back-end implementation, ensuring seamless integration of features, while guiding the team to maintain high development standards and timely sprint progress.
Role: Technical Lead & Software Engineer
Tech Stack:
React.js & Next.js: Building interactive, SEO-optimized user interfaces and marketplace workflows.
Tailwind CSS: Designing responsive, mobile-first layouts with modern African-inspired aesthetics.
Zustand: Managing global application state across marketplace and dashboard features.
Nest.js: Developing a scalable, modular backend for product management, order workflows, and integrations.
Clerk: Implementing secure user authentication and role-based access (buyers, sellers, admins).
AWS: Hosting and scaling the platform with reliability and performance in mind.
Namecheap: Managing domain name services for deployment.
Key Contributions:
User-Centric Design:
Leading the creation of an intuitive, mobile-first interface optimized for LadX’s African user base.
Designing smooth navigation flows for product discovery, checkout, and “Request an Item” submissions.
Ensuring accessibility through screen reader compatibility and keyboard navigation.
Responsive and Optimized Layout:
Building responsive grids and category-based layouts that perform consistently across devices.
Applying SEO best practices for product listings, category pages, and “Shop by Country” filters.
Prioritizing lightweight builds for fast loading, even in low-bandwidth environments.
Complex Problem Solving:
Balancing aesthetics with functionality to showcase authentic African products without compromising clarity.
Architecting backend APIs in Nest.js to support order tracking, product catalog, and logistics integration.
Implementing multi-currency display and transparent delivery costs ($7/kg model) to improve trust.
Collaborative Innovation:
Coordinating cross-functional collaboration between designers and backend engineers.
Overseeing integration of real-time order tracking and CMS-driven content updates.
Guiding the adoption of best practices through code reviews and technical decision-making.
Key Features Being Developed:
Home Page & Hero Banner: Engaging visuals highlighting authentic African products and services.
Product Grid & Shop by Country Tabs: Dynamic, mobile-friendly product listings filtered by origin.
Request an Item Form: Simple user flow for sourcing unavailable products.
Seller Onboarding & Verification: Dashboard for local stores and artisans to list and manage products.
Trust & Delivery Strip: Clear communication of LadX’s value proposition: fast, affordable, and secure trade.
Policy & FAQ Pages: Transparent guidance on returns, shipping timelines, and seller policies.
Vision and Impact:
I am contributing to building a marketplace that redefines African-to-African trade by lowering cross-border barriers, creating digital opportunities for artisans and vendors, and delivering authentic products to consumers across Africa with transparency and trust.
Achievements (In Progress):
Leading the build of a scalable, secure, and user-friendly pan-African e-commerce platform.
Establishing technical foundations for future features like seller dashboards, subscriptions, and AI-driven product recommendations.
Driving the project towards becoming a trusted, community-driven marketplace that empowers buyers and sellers across Africa.
Focus Areas:
Technical leadership, user experience, responsive design, accessibility, backend architecture, authentication, and cross-border e-commerce workflows.
