Kenya’s social commerce market is rapidly expanding, and startups like Chpter are at the forefront of this transformation. While millions of Kenyans use social media to shop, many businesses struggle with cart abandonment when customers are redirected away from their favorite platforms. Chpter aims to solve this by enabling seamless transactions directly within social media apps like WhatsApp and Instagram.
Founded by Tesh Mbaabu, who previously co-founded Marketforce, Chpter provides businesses with automated tools for conversations, marketing, and payments. Instead of acting as a marketplace, it works behind the scenes to streamline order processing and customer interactions. The platform allows businesses to turn their social media engagement into direct sales, capitalizing on Africa’s growing e-commerce market, which is projected to reach over 500 million shoppers by 2025.
Chpter raised $1.2 million in pre-seed funding in September, with backing from investors like Pani, Techstars, Renew Capital, and Norrsken. The startup also participated in Safaricom’s Spark Accelerator in 2024, gaining mentorship and scaling support. Its revenue model includes monthly SaaS subscriptions, transaction fees, and Meta Business Partner services for WhatsApp marketing.
As Chpter scales its operations and plans expansion into markets like Egypt and Nigeria, it remains focused on building a sustainable business before seeking additional funding. With social media evolving into a major e-commerce hub, Chpter is positioning itself as the technology powering this shift.
Read the full news here: TechInAfrica