There's a number that changed how we think about everything we're building. In the Philippines, the average monthly wage is approximately $350. On Lesuto, a single sale of a mid-range furniture piece can generate $200-$400 in merchant commission. That means one sale -- one customer clicking "Buy Now" on a merchant's storefront -- can be worth more than an entire month of local employment.

This isn't hypothetical. This is the reality we're building toward, and it's why we wake up every morning.

The Borderless Marketplace

Traditional e-commerce has always had an invisible border. Sure, the internet is global, but the opportunities it creates are not. To sell on Amazon, you need a US bank account, a tax ID, inventory, and enough capital to weather their fee structure. To run a Shopify store, you need a monthly subscription, product sourcing, fulfillment logistics, and an advertising budget.

These requirements effectively exclude billions of people from participating in the world's largest consumer economy. If you live in a developing nation, your access to e-commerce is typically limited to local platforms with small markets and thin margins.

Lesuto erases that border. A merchant in Manila, Lagos, Bogota, or Mumbai can sign up for free, subscribe to American suppliers, and sell American products to American consumers. The supplier handles inventory and shipping. The platform handles payments and infrastructure. The merchant handles what they do best: reaching people and building trust with an audience.

The Math That Changes Lives

Let's look at the numbers across different regions:

The Philippines

• Average monthly wage: ~$350
• Commission on a $1,500 sofa (at 25%): $375
• One sale per month = more than a full-time salary

Nigeria

• Average monthly wage: ~$150
• Commission on a $800 health supplement bundle (at 30%): $240
• One sale per month = 60% more than a full-time salary

India

• Average monthly wage: ~$200
• Commission on a $2,000 medical equipment order (at 20%): $400
• One sale per month = double a full-time salary

Colombia

• Average monthly wage: ~$300
• Commission on a $600 beauty product set (at 35%): $210
• One sale per month = 70% of a full-time salary

These aren't fantasy scenarios. These are the product categories and price points that already exist on Lesuto's supplier network. And the commission rates are set by the suppliers themselves -- they're not inflated for illustration.

What Makes This Possible

Three things had to be true for this to work:

1. Zero Upfront Cost

If starting a Lesuto storefront cost even $50 per month, it would be out of reach for most of the world. Our free merchant model removes the financial barrier entirely. You need internet access and time -- that's it.

2. No Inventory Risk

The merchant never touches, stores, or ships a product. They don't need warehouse space, packaging materials, or shipping accounts. The supplier handles all of that. The merchant's job is to build an audience and drive sales.

3. Global Payouts via Stripe

Stripe operates in 46+ countries, and expanding rapidly. When a sale happens, the commission flows directly to the merchant's connected Stripe account. Payouts are held until the return window expires (protecting everyone), then released automatically. No invoicing, no manual transfers, no payment delays.

High-Commission Product Categories

Not all products are created equal when it comes to commission potential. Here are the categories where merchants can earn the most per sale:

• Furniture & Home Decor -- High price points ($500-$5,000+), typical commission: 20-30%
• Medical Equipment -- Specialty items with strong margins, typical commission: 15-25%
• Beauty & Cosmetics -- Repeat purchase potential, typical commission: 25-40%
• Health Supplements -- Subscription-friendly, typical commission: 25-35%
• Electronics & Gadgets -- Mid-to-high price points, typical commission: 10-20%
• Pet Products -- Passionate customer base, typical commission: 20-30%

Smart merchants focus on categories that match their audience and maximize commission per sale. A merchant who builds a following in the home decor space, for example, can generate substantial income from just a handful of sales per month.

The Lesuto Foundation Vision

We're not naive about the challenges facing entrepreneurs in developing nations. Internet access, digital literacy, banking infrastructure, and language barriers are all real obstacles. That's why we're building the Lesuto Foundation -- a commitment to reinvesting a portion of platform revenue into:

• Digital literacy programs in underserved communities
• Micro-grants for aspiring merchants who need help getting started
• Translation and localization to make the platform accessible in more languages
• Banking partnerships to expand Stripe's reach into more countries

The Foundation isn't a charity. It's an investment in the network. Every new merchant, everywhere in the world, makes the entire ecosystem stronger.

The Multiplier Effect

Here's what makes Lesuto truly different from sending aid or creating job programs: every merchant who succeeds creates value for everyone else in the network. When a merchant in Lagos sells a sofa made by a supplier in Austin, the supplier gets revenue, the merchant gets commission, and the platform grows -- which attracts more suppliers, which gives more products to more merchants, which generates more sales.

This is a flywheel, not a one-time transaction. And it scales without anyone's permission. There's no bureaucracy, no application process, no quota system. If you can build an audience, you can earn.

Join the Movement

We built Lesuto for the 8 billion people on this planet who deserve a shot at economic participation. If you're reading this from a country where the average wage doesn't reflect your ambition, your intelligence, or your work ethic -- we built this for you.

Sign up. Subscribe to suppliers. Share your store. Your first commission might change your month. Your hundredth might change your life.