Founded in 2017 by Steve Biko and Sebastian Mithika and launching operations in 2018, Zanifu offers a digital lending platform that supplies short-term working capital to informal and small retailers embedded in the FMCG supply chain. The company positions itself as critical financial infrastructure for merchants who are largely excluded from traditional credit channels. To date, it has disbursed more than US$60 million in loans and financed over 15,000 SMEs. Zanifu reports having reached break-even for two consecutive months, a notable feat in the cash-intensive fintech sector. The startup’s growth strategy includes scaling its lending solutions across additional African markets. Previously, it raised a US$11.2 million mix of debt and equity in August 2023. The latest infusion from Yango Ventures is intended to accelerate this regional expansion and deepen its loan book.

Total raised

$12M

Funding rounds

4

Latest round

Series A

Latest activity

Aug 2023