Chpter, a Kenyan startup that has developed an AI-powered conversational commerce platform that allows businesses to sell more on social networks such as WhatsApp and Instagram, received US$1.2 million in pre-seed capital to continue developing its product and expanding across Africa.
Pani led the funding round, which included Plesion Capital, Techstars, Norrsken, Renew Capital, ViKtoria Ventures, and angel investors such as NALA’s Benjamin Fernandes and WorkPay co-founders Paul Kimani and Jackson Kibigo.
Kuria Kevin and Mark Kiarie founded Chpter in Kenya in 2022, and were joined earlier this year by MarketForce’s Mesongo Sibuti and Tesh Mbaabu, who had recently closed their B2B e-commerce platform RejaReja.
The startup’s AI-powered chat automation tools help retailers sell more on social media platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram by automating interactions, marketing, and payments all in one location.
“We are thrilled to pioneer the social commerce revolution, starting in Africa, as more and more consumers turn to social channels such as WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok to communicate and purchase from the brands they love,” said Mbaabu, Chpter’s CEO.
“Specifically, WhatsApp’s role in business communication cannot be overstated. With more than two billion active users, it offers an unparalleled platform for businesses to offer support, engage in sales conversations, and maintain customer relationships,” Mbaabu added.
Ken Njoroge, managing partner at PANI and former founder and CEO of Cellulant, said his organisation was always on the search for founder teams with “incredible grit”.
Chpter intends to use the funds to speed product development, improve sales and marketing activities, and increase product availability to more Sub-Saharan African countries. The platform is already available in Kenya and South Africa, with plans to expand to at least five other markets in the coming months, including Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt, and Morocco.
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