Kenyan business startup Chpter secures $1.2 million in early-stage funding for social commerce initiatives

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

Chpter, a Kenyan startup that has developed an AI-driven conversational commerce platform, has secured $1.2 million in pre-seed funding. The funding round was led by Pani, with participation from Plesion Capital, Techstars, Norrsken, Renew Capital, ViKtoria Ventures, and several angel investors.

Founded in 2022 by Kuria Kevin and Mark Kiarie, Chpter's platform is currently operational in Kenya and South Africa. The startup aims to expand into at least five additional markets in the coming months, including Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt, and Morocco.

Chpter's AI-powered chat automation tools streamline interactions, marketing, and payments in a single location, making it easier for businesses to enhance their sales on social networks like WhatsApp and Instagram. The platform is a significant platform for business communication, with WhatsApp boasting over two billion active users.

Tesh Mbaabu, CEO of Chpter, expressed excitement about leading the social commerce revolution in Africa. Mbaabu, along with Mesongo Sibuti, who recently closed their B2B e-commerce platform RejaReja, have joined Chpter's team. Pani, led by Ken Njoroge, invested in Chpter due to the team's "incredible grit."

Benjamin Fernandes from NALA, Paul Kimani from WorkPay, and Jackson Kibigo are among the angel investors. Chpter plans to use the funds for accelerating product development, enhancing sales and marketing efforts, and broadening product availability across Sub-Saharan African countries.

With the addition of Mbaabu, Sibuti, and the investment from Pani, Chpter is well-positioned to revolutionise the way businesses communicate and sell on social networks in Africa. The startup's AI-driven conversational commerce platform enables businesses to offer support, engage in sales discussions, and maintain customer relationships on WhatsApp, making it easier than ever for businesses to connect with customers and grow their sales.