Welcome to Insaka eCommerce Academy: Who We Are and How We Help South African Online Sellers
Updated October 2026
Insaka eCommerce Academy is a South African online training academy that helps people start and grow profitable online businesses. Founder Warrick Kernes started Insaka in late 2017 and launched it early in 2018 with a goal of helping 100,000 South African entrepreneurs. Today Insaka has helped more than 100,000 South Africans through its courses, free resources, a Facebook community of more than 43,000 members, an annual virtual summit and the eCommerce Explained podcast. Students rate Insaka 4.9 out of 5 on Google.
Insaka at a glance
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Founded | Late 2017, launched in early 2018 |
| Founder | Warrick Kernes, selling online since 2008, with over R130 million in personal online sales |
| Mission | Help South Africans start and grow successful online businesses |
| People helped | More than 100,000 South Africans |
| Community | South Africa's largest eCommerce Facebook group, with more than 43,000 members |
| Recognition | Shopify's Top Education Partner worldwide in 2021 and Africa's first official Shopify Education Partner |
| Student reviews | 4.9 out of 5 from more than 600 Google reviews (October 2026) |
| Training | eCommerce Next Level, Next Level Platinum and free courses |
What our students say on Google
You can also read independent reviews on HelloPeter.
Our mission: then and now
When Insaka launched, Warrick set out to help 100,000 South African entrepreneurs start and grow their own online businesses. Small and medium businesses drive South Africa's economy and create jobs. We believed online selling would open that opportunity to far more people.
In 2017, online sales made up just over 1% of South African retail. We called it the "1% tipping point": once a country reaches it, eCommerce growth tends to speed up. That is what happened. Online retail is now about 10% of all retail in South Africa and is forecast to reach about R159 billion in 2026, according to World Wide Worx. See our South African eCommerce statistics for 2026.
We have now passed our original goal of helping 100,000 South Africans. The mission has not changed: give local sellers practical, South African training so they can build businesses that last.
Why learn eCommerce with Insaka?
Most eCommerce advice online is written for the US or Europe. South Africa is different. Delivery costs, payment habits, customer trust, local marketplaces and SARS rules all decide who makes money. Insaka's training is built around these local realities:
- Local payment gateways, Instant EFT and card declines
- Couriers, lockers and delivery costs across South Africa
- Selling on Takealot and Amazon.co.za
- Importing, customs and finding South African suppliers
- POPIA, the Consumer Protection Act and tax basics
Meet our founder, Warrick Kernes
Warrick has been selling online since 2008. He founded the online store Action Gear, which won 1st place for Best Customer Service at the 2015 South African eCommerce Awards. He has personally generated more than R130 million in online sales. In 2021 Shopify named him its Top eCommerce Educator worldwide.
He lectures MBA students on eCommerce at WITS Business School, serves on the board of the eCommerce Forum of Africa and speaks regularly at business events, including for J.P. Morgan. Read his full story on Warrick Kernes: South Africa's eCommerce expert.
Our courses
Insaka offers two levels of premium training and a range of free courses, so you can start wherever you are.
| Programme | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|
| eCommerce Next Level | Beginners and existing sellers who want ongoing training, coaching and community | From R697 a month, with a 30-day money-back guarantee |
| Next Level Platinum | Beginners who want a pre-built Shopify store and live group coaching | R19,997 once-off or 12 payments of R1,897 |
| Free courses | Anyone exploring eCommerce before investing | Free |
eCommerce Next Level
Our flagship programme takes you from your first idea to a growing online business. It includes more than 450 training videos across five levels, from product research and building your store to ads, SEO, Takealot, Amazon and scaling. Members also get monthly live "Ask Me Anything" calls with Warrick, expert training sessions and a members-only community.
Next Level Platinum
Platinum includes everything in Next Level, plus a pre-built Shopify store loaded with products, five weeks of live VIP group coaching and lifetime access to the training and community.
Free courses
Not ready to invest yet? Start with one of our free courses:
- Validate Your Business Idea
- 5 Steps to Launching Your Online Store
- Sell a Lot on Takealot
- How to Import Products into SA
- 3 Steps to Kickstart Your Amazon Success
For a full comparison, read our guide to eCommerce courses in South Africa or browse all our courses.
More ways to learn with Insaka
- Free Facebook community: join the Insaka eCommerce Community, South Africa's largest eCommerce group, to ask questions and learn from other sellers.
- eCommerce Virtual Summit: our annual online event has drawn more than 10,000 participants every year since 2020.
- eCommerce Explained podcast: interviews with South African founders, including The Courier Guy's Stephen Gleisner.
- The Insaka blog: free guides such as the complete guide to starting an online business in South Africa and the complete guide to selling on Takealot.
Not sure where to start?
Our free training shows you how to get more sales from the people already visiting your online store.
Can you trust Insaka?
If you are checking whether Insaka is the right place to learn, here is what you can verify:
- Students rate Insaka 4.9 out of 5 on Google (see the reviews above) and review us on HelloPeter.
- Shopify named Insaka's founder its Top Education Partner worldwide in 2021. Read our Shopify award announcement.
- Insaka was Africa's first official Shopify Education Partner. Read the announcement.
- Warrick has run real online businesses since 2008, including the award-winning Action Gear.
- Our premium training comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- The Facebook community is free, so you can see how we help sellers before you spend anything.
As featured in
- CNBC Africa
- News24
- 702 Talk Radio
- kykNET
- 94.7 with DJ Fresh
- Cliff Central with Gareth Cliff
- ITWeb
- Brainstorm Magazine and JSE Magazine
- Entrepreneur Magazine
Frequently asked questions
What is Insaka eCommerce Academy?
Insaka is a South African eCommerce training academy founded by Warrick Kernes. It offers online courses, coaching, free resources, a 43,000-member Facebook community and an annual virtual summit for online sellers.
What does "Insaka" mean?
Read the story behind our name in what does Insaka mean?
Are Insaka's courses suitable for beginners?
Yes. eCommerce Next Level starts with a short quiz that places you at the right level. The free courses are written for complete beginners.
Does Insaka offer free courses?
Yes. Free courses cover validating your business idea, launching your online store, selling on Takealot, importing products and getting started on Amazon.
Is Insaka legitimate?
Yes. Insaka has a 4.9-star rating from more than 600 Google reviews, its founder was named Shopify's Top Education Partner in 2021 and its premium training carries a money-back guarantee.
For a bit of fun: where it all started
Here is the welcome video Warrick shot when he launched Insaka in early 2018. The message and the vision are exactly the same today. His presentation skills, we are happy to report, have come a long way since.
Written or reviewed by Warrick Kernes, founder of Insaka eCommerce Academy and Shopify's 2021 Top Education Partner worldwide, based on 15+ years of selling online in South Africa.
