Kenyan Startup Chpter Expands to 11 African Markets in Partnership with Flutterwave
Kenyan software startup Chpter has entered 11 new markets through a strategic partnership with fintech leader Flutterwave.
The expansion adds Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Egypt, Burkina Faso, Malawi, and Zambia to Chpter’s existing presence in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa.
Founded to support small and medium-sized enterprises in the growing social commerce space, Chpter offers an AI-driven Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform designed to help businesses sell directly through messaging apps. Its partnership with Flutterwave allows Chpter merchants in the new markets to accept local payments via mobile money, card, and bank transfer, streamlining transactions across currencies and regions.
Mark Kiarie, CEO of Chpter said: “We have been onboarding dozens of new businesses every week, and many of these businesses are coming from markets such as Senegal and Tanzania despite us not having done any direct outreach there yet.”
“This partnership reflects our excitement and commitment to meeting that growing demand. It means these businesses can now go live on Chpter and start accepting payments directly via WhatsApp and Instagram, which drive up to 60% of their inbound traffic.”
To deepen its reach, the company launched Pluto, a WhatsApp API suite enabling businesses to run end-to-end customer journeys on the platform.
The company operates on a subscription model priced between $50 and $550 per month, with revenue supplements from AI tools and paid messaging. Backed by a $1.2 million pre-seed round in 2024 led by Pani, the startup also counts Techstars, Norrsken, and Renew Capital among its investors.
On his part, Mayokun Owolabi, VP, Global Expansion & Payment Partnerships Africa, said: “Partnering with Chpter enables us to continue empowering merchants in Africa by equipping them with the right tools to connect and transact directly with customers on platforms they already trust, such as WhatsApp the world’s most widely used messaging platform. Together, we’re making buying and selling faster, safer, and more intuitive.”
As digital infrastructure for African SMEs remains fragmented, Chpter is positioning itself as a scalable tech solution that meets the continent’s unique challenges. The startup recently restructured its team around an AI-first strategy, launching AI-powered sales and support tools.