Ghanaian fintech startup Liquify has raised $1.5 million in seed funding to revolutionize how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Africa access trade finance. The round was led by pan-African venture capital firm Launch Africa Ventures, with participation from RaliCap, Future Africa, and a number of strategic angel investors.
Founded in 2023 by Kwaku Boateng and Ama Aboagye, Liquify provides digital trade finance solutions that enable African SMEs to access working capital, manage cross-border payments, and streamline supply chain transactions. Its platform leverages alternative data and artificial intelligence to assess creditworthiness, reducing the traditional barriers SMEs face when seeking financing from banks.
The company says the fresh capital will be used to grow its engineering and credit teams, expand its lending capacity, and scale its operations in key markets including Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa.
Kwaku Boateng, CEO of Liquify, said the seed round marks a major milestone in the company’s mission to close Africa’s trade finance gap, estimated at over $80 billion annually.
“SMEs are the engine of Africa’s economy, yet many lack the access to capital needed to grow and thrive,” Boateng said. “At Liquify, we are building a platform that makes trade financing seamless, fast, and accessible to the businesses that need it most.”
The company partners with manufacturers, exporters, and local distributors, helping them secure financing for inventory purchases, order fulfillment, and invoice factoring. Liquify’s solution integrates with accounting software, payment gateways, and logistics partners to give clients real-time visibility into their financial and supply chain health.
Investors say Liquify is addressing a critical and underserved need on the continent.
“Liquidity constraints remain a major bottleneck for African SMEs,” said Biola Alabi of RaliCap. “Liquify’s data-driven approach is unlocking capital where it’s most impactful and enabling a new wave of inclusive economic growth.”
Since launching its pilot program in early 2024, Liquify claims to have facilitated over $5 million in financing for more than 300 SMEs in Ghana. The startup’s credit model draws on transaction history, supplier relationships, and inventory cycles—offering a dynamic alternative to collateral-based lending.
The seed funding will also support product development, including new features for embedded finance, invoice insurance, and FX hedging tailored to intra-African trade.
As Africa’s digital economy accelerates and intra-continental commerce expands under the AfCFTA framework, fintech platforms like Liquify are poised to play a transformative role in unlocking capital for businesses driving the region’s growth.
With this funding round, Liquify aims to position itself as the leading trade finance solution for Africa’s next generation of entrepreneurs and export-led SMEs.
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