Yango Group, a UAE-based technology company, has invested in Zanifu, a Kenyan fintech platform providing working capital to small and medium-sized enterprises. The company said the investment is part of a wider strategy to support high-potential startups that are driving economic impact across African markets.
Beyond funding, Yango will work with Zanifu to shape its long-term structure and growth strategy, leveraging its operational experience across more than 30 markets. According to the group, the goal is to help accelerate Zanifu’s expansion and deepen its support for small businesses across the continent.
Zanifu has become a key player in SME financing through its embedded lending solutions, enabling small retailers and distributors to purchase inventory, manage cash flow and scale their operations. It has already financed around 15,000 businesses, disbursing tens of millions of dollars and demonstrating how fintech innovation can unlock growth for underserved enterprises.
Yango described Zanifu’s mission as closely aligned with its own vision of building tools that enable other businesses to grow. By improving access to capital, the fintech is helping small businesses expand and strengthen local economies, especially in informal and retail sectors where traditional lending remains limited.
The investment was executed through Yango Ventures, a corporate venture fund launched earlier this year with an initial $20 million dedicated to early-stage startups across Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. The fund targets companies in high-growth areas such as online-to-offline services, B2B software and financial technology, offering both capital and operational support.
With its backing of Zanifu, Yango Ventures is positioning itself as a catalyst for innovation within Africa’s startup ecosystem, signalling growing global confidence in fintech solutions designed to advance financial inclusion and lift the productivity of small businesses.
