tappi, a digital commerce Software as a Service (SaaS) solution tailored for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), has successfully raised $1.5 million in a pre-seed funding round. The investment was led by Mercy Corps Ventures and Chui Ventures, with participation from notable backers, including Digital Currency Group, SOSV, Resilience17, growX ventures, Orbit Startups, Reflect Ventures, and angel investors from tech giants like Google, Salesforce, and Zendesk.
SMEs, which contribute significantly to Africa’s GDP and employment, often face challenges in digitizing their operations to tap into the benefits of the digital age. tappi, founded in 2022 by Kenfield Griffith (CEO) and Louis Majanja, addresses this by offering an end-to-end digital commerce solution for SMEs.
The tappi platform simplifies the process of creating and managing online business profiles for SMEs, allowing them to showcase products, engage with customers, and accept payments. The startup aims to enhance visibility for these businesses by creating SEO-optimized websites, usually within 2 minutes, with over 5,000 business pages indexed on Google.
tappi’s unique features include partnerships with mobile network operators, currently with MTN, enabling businesses to purchase ads using airtime. The platform also offers an AI tool for generating ad descriptions, addressing a common challenge for SMEs in crafting compelling ad copies. While not yet profitable, tappi plans to leverage the new funding to double down on existing markets, focus on talent acquisition, and strengthen overall brand building.
Kenfield Griffith, tappi’s CEO, expressed gratitude for the support from investors and emphasized the company’s commitment to empowering SMEs across Africa by providing them with a trusted online identity to connect with customers.
The startup generates revenue through customer subscriptions ranging from $2 to $100, with significant growth seen in the $2–$19 subscription range and a 19% month-over-month increase in business ads and data bundle subscriptions. As tappi continues its journey to profitability, it looks to explore strategic partnerships for the next phase of growth.
