Grace Ashiru
Chpter, a Kenyan startup that has created an AI-driven conversational commerce platform enabling businesses to enhance their sales on social networks like WhatsApp and Instagram, has secured US$1.2 million in pre-seed funding to further develop its product and expand across Africa.
The funding round was led by Pani, with participation from Plesion Capital, Techstars, Norrsken, Renew Capital, ViKtoria Ventures, and angel investors, including Benjamin Fernandes from NALA and WorkPay co-founders Paul Kimani and Jackson Kibigo.
Founded in Kenya in 2022 by Kuria Kevin and Mark Kiarie, Chpter has also welcomed MarketForce’s Mesongo Sibuti and Tesh Mbaabu, who recently closed their B2B e-commerce platform RejaReja, to the team earlier this year.
The startup’s AI-powered chat automation tools enable retailers to boost sales on social media platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram by streamlining interactions, marketing, and payments in a single location.
“We are excited to lead the social commerce revolution, beginning in Africa, as an increasing number of consumers turn to social channels like WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok to engage with and purchase from their favorite brands,” said Mbaabu, Chpter’s CEO.
“WhatsApp’s significance in business communication is immense. With over two billion active users, it provides an unparalleled platform for businesses to offer support, engage in sales discussions, and maintain customer relationships,” Mbaabu added.
Ken Njoroge, managing partner at Pani and former founder and CEO of Cellulant, noted that his organization is always looking for founder teams with “incredible grit.”
Chpter plans to utilize the funds to accelerate product development, enhance sales and marketing efforts, and broaden product availability across more Sub-Saharan African countries. The platform is currently operational in Kenya and South Africa, with ambitions to expand into at least five additional markets in the coming months, including Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt, and Morocco.
