Nairobi-based fintech startup PesaLink has raised $12 million in a Series A funding round led by pan-African venture capital firm Atlantica Ventures, with participation from the IFC and two undisclosed Silicon Valley investors. The startup, which enables instant mobile money transfers across all Kenyan telcos without switching apps, plans to use the funds to expand into Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda by end of 2026.
Solving a Real Problem
PesaLink CEO and co-founder Amina Odhiambo told Kelele254 the idea came from personal frustration. “I was tired of having to maintain four different mobile money wallets just to send money to my own family members. We built the one app that talks to all of them.”
How It Works
The PesaLink platform integrates with M-Pesa, Airtel Money, T-Kash, and Equitel via a unified API, allowing users to send and receive money in real time regardless of their network. The app also features AI-powered fraud detection and biometric authentication.
Kenya’s Tech Scene on the Rise
The raise is the latest in a string of significant funding rounds for Kenyan tech startups in 2026, reinforcing Nairobi’s position as the “Silicon Savannah” of Africa. Investors have poured over $200 million into Kenyan startups in the first half of this year alone.
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