LittleFish Secures $9.5M to Transform SME Banking with Merchant Operating System Across Africa
South African fintech startup LittleFish has announced its funding of $9.5 million in order to expand and build its merchant operating system across Africa. This funding is targeted at closing the bridge that occurs in financial services between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
This funding round was supported by TLcom Capital and Flourish Ventures, marking TLcom’s first investment in South Africa.
In the words of Brandon Roberts, Co-Founder & CEO, Littlefish, stated that;
"This raise is a validation of our belief that the best way to serve Africa's small businesses is to work with the institutions they already trust, not around them. We've proven the model in South Africa, and this capital gives us the runway to deepen those relationships and bring what we've built to millions more merchants across the continent."
This transformation is designed to help financial institutions in providing better services to SMEs, who often engage in disconnected technologies for day-to-day operations. Littlefish plans to partner with banks by allowing them to deliver seamless merchant services while preserving client relationships through a third-party software solution.
The aim of this idea is representative of a larger trend in the fintech sector in Africa, where traditional firms are increasingly developing infrastructure for banks rather than taking their place.
With millions of SMEs across Africa still under-served by traditional banking systems, Littlefish’s expansion could play a critical role in improving access to financial tools, boosting efficiency, and driving economic growth across the continent.
About Littlefish
Founded in 2021, Littlefish is a fast-growing fintech startup based in Johannesburg, South Africa, focused on building a merchant operating system that helps banks and financial institutions better serve small businesses across Africa. Founded by Brandon Roberts and Davith Kahwa, Littlefish provides a white-label digital platform that allows banks, fintechs, and insurers to offer a full suite of tools to their business customers.