Kenyan fintech startup Leja has processed US$2 billion in B2B payments since launching its B2B payments service earlier this year.
Leja is focused on bridging the gap between MSMEs and financial institutions, empowering small businesses by streamlining payment management and providing tools to improve efficiency, setting the stage for growth and better access to formal financial resources.
The Leja app helps businesses move from pen-and-paper to digital recordkeeping, integrating seamlessly with mobile money platforms. Since its inception three years ago, Leja has onboarded over 1.4 million MSMEs, and its 2024 milestone reflects a 30 per cent month-over-month growth rate and a cumulative 300 per cent increase in B2B transactions within a year.
“The rapid adoption of the Leja app over the past year highlights the power of local solutions tailored to underserved markets. We’re proud to address the challenges MSMEs face, including limited access to affordable payment options and working capital financing. Many MSMEs previously relied on costly and inconvenient methods like cash, which impacted their operations,” said Tekwane Mwendwa, co-founder and CEO of Leja.
“Currently, only 10 per cent of our users utilise the B2B payment feature, but we aim to grow this to 50 per cent, unlocking significant transaction volume and revenue potential. On the lending side, we plan to expand our reach from five per cent to 20 per cent by partnering with financial institutions and NGOs to bridge the MSME credit gap.”
Leja also plans to expand into two additional East African markets by Q2 2025. By leveraging its innovative data-driven credit scoring and payment solutions, Leja aims to drive revenue growth while advancing financial inclusion.
“Our mission is to close the substantial credit gap that hinders MSME growth, enabling micro-SMEs across Africa to thrive,” Mwendwa said. “We’re committed to delivering accessible and scalable solutions while providing strong returns for our investors.”
