Kenyan Lending Startup Zanifu Gets Funding from Yango Ventures

Kenyan lending startup Zanifu gets funding from Yango Ventures, and this is exciting news for small businesses in Kenya and across Africa. This new support will help Zanifu grow and continue helping many small shops and businesses that need quick loans to keep going.

Zanifu was started in 2017 by two friends, Steve Biko and Sebastian Mithika. They saw that many small businesses in Kenya, especially those selling everyday goods like food and household items, struggled to get loans from banks. So, Zanifu began offering short-term loans to these small businesses in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) supply chain. Since then, Zanifu has given out more than US$60 million in loans and helped over 15,000 small businesses. This shows how much these loans are needed and how Zanifu is making a real difference.

What’s more, Zanifu has done something rare in the fintech world — it reached break-even for two months straight. This means the startup is making enough money to cover its expenses, which is a big deal because many fintech companies take a long time to become profitable.

Kenyan Lending Startup Zanifu Gets Funding from Yango Ventures

Before getting this new funding, Zanifu raised US$11.2 million in August 2023 through a mix of debt and equity. Now, Kenyan lending startup Zanifu gets funding from Yango Ventures, which is a new venture capital fund started by Yango Group. Yango Ventures, launched in April 2025, has set aside US$20 million to invest in early-stage startups in Africa that are working on important technology solutions.

This funding from Yango Ventures is Zanifu’s second big boost in Kenya this year. Earlier in July, Yango Ventures invested in a mobility startup called BuuPass. The fact that Yango Ventures is investing in Zanifu shows they believe in Kenya’s startup scene and want to help businesses that can really change people’s lives.

Yango Ventures explained their reason for investing by saying many small retailers don’t get formal credit easily. This is a big problem because without loans, these small businesses can’t grow or face tough times. Zanifu is helping by building new financial systems that give these shops access to money faster and more simply.

Thanks to this support, Zanifu can now plan to grow even more, reaching more small businesses in Kenya and beyond. Kenyan lending startup Zanifu gets funding from Yango Ventures at a very important time because many small businesses still struggle to find the loans they need.

The leadership at Yango Ventures said they are proud to help Zanifu as it continues to scale up in Africa. This funding means Zanifu will have the resources to support many more entrepreneurs who need financial help right now.

Kenyan lending startup Zanifu gets funding from Yango Ventures, which shows something bigger — global tech companies are paying attention to Africa’s potential and the innovative startups here. Zanifu gets funding from Yango Ventures to keep offering loans to small businesses that are often left out by banks.

This new investment will help Zanifu build on the great work already done in giving millions of dollars in loans to thousands of small business owners. As Zanifu grows bigger, it will help open up many more opportunities for small business owners, especially those who struggle to get credit from traditional banks.

Kenyan lending startup Zanifu has secured this funding from Yango Ventures just when small retailers need it most. It is an example of how partnerships between big global companies and African startups can bring real change to the financial world.

Zanifu’s success and this new funding show that Kenya and Africa have a lot of potential for financial innovation. With this new support, Zanifu will be able to help many more small businesses grow and succeed, making a positive impact on communities throughout the continent. The future looks bright for Zanifu as it continues to expand and support small business owners across Africa.

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