Rwandan remittance startup Mergims has expanded its scope with the launch of a web app that allows Rwandans to pay for services locally.
The Mergims mobile application links members of the African diaspora directly to traders in their countries of origin, thus enabling them to pay tuition fees, airtime, electricity and more for their relatives living on the continent.
Having closed a US$50,000 investment round late last year, the startup has now expanded its scope from simply serving the diaspora, allowing all Rwandans regardless of their location to pay for services such as DStv and Canal+ using a web app.
“Along the way we realised that local people are interested to use Mergims. So we have enlarged our vision and mission and included all Rwandans, wherever they are, to be able to pay for basic needs,” founder Louis-Antoine Muhire told Disrupt Africa.
“Our mission now is to enable all those clients to make these payments via as many access points as possible. This is why we are launching our web app, which is going to be available on any device that can connect to internet.”
Muhire said the startup will be rolling out other new products soon, and also aims to launch in Kenya in July.
Disrupt Africa reported in September Mergims won the Rwandan leg of startups pitching competition Seedstars World, and will go on to represent Rwanda against other regional winners at the global finals to be held in Switzerland this month.
