Yango Ventures has announced its latest investment in Zanifu, a Nairobi-based fintech platform focused on bridging Africa’s small business financing gap. The deal marks a significant addition to Yango’s growing portfolio of companies driving economic transformation on the continent. With this partnership, Zanifu is set to accelerate its mission of unlocking access to working capital for underserved micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.
Zanifu’s Business Model and Market Focus
Zanifu was founded to address one of Sub-Saharan Africa’s most persistent challenges: limited access to credit for small retailers. Through its embedded lending technology and data-driven underwriting system, the company enables small business owners to purchase inventory, manage liquidity, and fuel growth without the barriers often found in traditional banking. This approach directly targets the structural exclusion of small enterprises from formal credit markets.
Strong Traction and Growth Indicators
The company has already demonstrated strong traction since launch. To date, it has disbursed over $60 million in loans, financing more than 15,000 small and medium-sized businesses across the region. Notably, Zanifu has also reached breakeven for two consecutive months, signaling a path toward sustainable profitability while scaling its reach.
Mission and Vision
At its core, Zanifu is a purpose-driven company committed to bridging the financial access gap in Africa. Its mission is to connect capital markets with the small retailers and suppliers who drive local economies but often lack financing tools. The broader vision is to bring millions of African MSMEs online, helping them expand operations and contribute to national and regional GDP growth.
Yango Ventures’ Strategic Interest
Yango Ventures expressed confidence in Zanifu’s potential to reshape financial infrastructure in Africa. The firm highlighted the startup’s strong alignment with its investment philosophy of backing bold, locally grounded solutions with scalable impact. By supporting Zanifu, Yango aims to accelerate the spread of real-time, embedded financial services that can strengthen entire supply chains and stimulate inclusive economic development.
Leadership and Team
Zanifu was co-founded by Steve Biko and Sebastian Mithika, who bring deep expertise in finance and technology to the venture. Their leadership has guided the company from concept to a platform with measurable impact, offering solutions tailored to the realities of African retailers. The team’s orientation toward impact-first outcomes has earned them recognition as innovators in fintech for development.
Social and Economic Impact
Beyond business growth, Zanifu positions itself as an enabler of economic resilience for communities across Africa. By ensuring that small retailers and suppliers remain liquid, the platform helps safeguard jobs, enhance productivity, and reduce poverty. Its embedded financing model not only strengthens business continuity but also fosters broader participation in formal financial systems.
The investment from Yango Ventures comes at a pivotal time for Africa’s SME sector, where access to finance remains a critical bottleneck. Zanifu’s track record and mission-driven model make it a strong candidate for scaling its impact across the continent and beyond. As it expands, the company is poised to play a vital role in shaping Africa’s financial landscape while reinforcing the link between innovation and inclusive growth.