Kenyan E-Commerce Startup Chpter Secures $1.2 Million in Pre-Seed Funding to Expand AI-Powered Platform Across Africa

Kenyan e-commerce startup Chpter has successfully raised $1.2 million (Ksh.155 million) in its pre-seed funding round, as the company prepares to expand its AI-powered commerce platform to more African markets. The startup, founded in 2022 by Mesongo Sibuti, Kuria Kevin, Mark Kiarie, and Tesh Mbaabu, offers a platform that helps merchants automate conversations, marketing, and payments on social platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram, enabling them to sell more effectively.

The funding round was led by Ken Njoroge of PANI, co-founder and former CEO of Cellulant, with participation from Plesion Capital, Techstars, Norrsken, Renew Capital, ViKtoria Ventures, and notable angel investors including NALA founder Benjamin Fernandes and Workpay co-founders Paul Kimani and Jackson Kibigo.

Chpter, which currently operates in Kenya and South Africa, serves clients such as Britam, Decathlon, Dovey Pharma, and Kicks Kenya. The startup’s platform is subscription-based, with additional revenue generated from transaction fees on payments processed through its tool.

With the newly acquired funding, Chpter plans to expand its operations to at least five more African markets, including Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt, and Morocco. The investment will also accelerate the development of Chpter's conversational commerce offerings and enhance its sales and marketing efforts.

Chpter's successful pre-seed round underscores the increasing demand for innovative e-commerce solutions across Africa, as businesses seek to leverage technology to engage customers more effectively. The startup’s focus on automating sales processes on popular social platforms positions it well to capitalize on the continent’s rapidly growing digital economy.

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