Chpter, a Kenyan e-commerce startup founded by the team behind YC-backed Marketforce, has successfully raised $1.2 million in a pre-seed funding round. This significant milestone comes as Chpter gears up to enhance its technology stack and expand its operations into Egypt and Nigeria. The company, established in 2022 by Tesh Mbaabu, Mesongo Sibuti, Kuria Kevin, and Mark Kiarie, specializes in transforming social media into a robust sales platform through chat, order, and payment tools.
The recent funding round was led by Pani, an Africa-focused investment firm co-founded by former Cellulant CEO Ken Njoroge. Additional investors include Plesion Capital, Techstars, Norrsken, Renew Capital, and ViKtoria Ventures, as well as prominent angel investors like Nala founder and CEO Benjamin Fernandes and Workpay co-founders Paul Kimani and Jackson Kibigo. This investment underscores strong confidence in Chpter’s innovative approach and growth potential.
Chpter’s platform integrates APIs from major social media channels such as WhatsApp and Instagram with e-commerce and CRM systems like Shopify and WooCommerce. This seamless connectivity allows businesses to streamline their sales processes and manage transactions more effectively. The startup already serves notable clients including insurer Britam, shoe store Kicks Kenya, and e-commerce platform Phoneplace.
In addition to its successful fundraising, Chpter has been accepted into two prestigious accelerator programs. The company joined the Norrsken Accelerator in 2023 and was recently selected for the Safaricom Spark Accelerator in May 2024. These affiliations position Chpter as a prominent player in the conversational commerce space, with significant backing and support from the startup ecosystem.
Chpter’s growth trajectory is notably independent from Marketforce, despite the shared founding team. The company operates separately but benefits from Marketforce’s investment as a shareholder. This separation allows Chpter to focus on its unique mission and objectives while leveraging the support of its investors and accelerator programs.
The new funding and accelerator placements are expected to drive Chpter’s expansion and technological advancements, solidifying its position as a leading innovator in the e-commerce sector. With its sights set on broader markets and enhanced technology, Chpter is poised for continued success and growth in the competitive landscape of social commerce.
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