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Kenyan fintech startup Leja has achieved a groundbreaking milestone, processing $2 billion in business-to-business (B2B) payments within just one year of launching its service. This impressive growth trajectory, marked by a consistent 30% month-over-month increase, underscores the surging demand for digital financial solutions in Kenya.
Empowering MSMEs with Digital Solutions
Leja’s platform is revolutionizing operations for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by digitizing traditional business processes. Through its app, MSMEs can move from manual record-keeping to streamlined digital operations, integrate with mobile money platforms, and reduce payment fees. The app also tracks sales and manages operations more effectively, enhancing overall business efficiency and profitability.
By adopting a data-driven approach, Leja enables MSMEs to build robust credit profiles, tackling one of the sector’s most persistent challenges: limited access to affordable financing.
Since its founding three years ago, Leja has onboarded over 1.4 million MSMEs, including a significant number of women- and youth-led businesses. These groups, traditionally underserved by financial institutions, have faced barriers such as high transaction costs and limited credit access.
Transforming Financial Access for MSMEs
Tekwane Mwendwa, Co-Founder and CEO of Leja, highlighted the company’s mission to address the unique challenges faced by MSMEs:
“We’re proud to address the challenges faced by MSMEs, including limited access to affordable payment options and working capital financing. By leveraging our innovative data-driven approach, we aim to unlock significant transaction volume and revenue potential.”
He further emphasized:
“Our mission is to bridge the substantial credit gap that hinders MSME growth. We’re committed to delivering accessible and scalable solutions that empower micro-SMEs and provide strong returns for our investors.”
Leja’s data aggregation allows financial institutions to de-risk lending to MSMEs, opening up a vast, untapped market and fostering financial inclusion.
Expansion and the Road Ahead
Building on its success in Kenya, Leja plans to expand into two additional East African markets by Q2 2025. This move aligns with the company’s vision of advancing financial inclusion across the region by delivering innovative, scalable solutions tailored to local needs.
As Leja continues to grow, it is not only driving revenue for itself but also empowering MSMEs to thrive in a rapidly digitizing economy, creating a ripple effect of economic transformation in the region.
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