US$193,780,000+
*Data updated daily at 18:00 EAT
Hakki Africa Inc., a mobility fintech focused on providing microfinance solutions for taxi drivers in Kenya, has raised a new funding round, marking a key milestone as the company achieves profitability. The round was co-led by Global Brain’s Flagship Fund IX and the Norinchukin Innovation Fund L.P., underscoring investor confidence in Hakki’s model and its expansion potential.
Founded by Reiji Kobayashi in 2018 and headquartered in Nairobi with roots in Japan, Hakki addresses a significant challenge faced by taxi drivers in Africa—access to affordable vehicle ownership. Many drivers struggle to secure loans from traditional banks due to a lack of credit history or collateral, often resorting to high-cost vehicle rentals. Hakki has developed a proprietary credit-scoring algorithm that uses alternative data sources, such as M-Pesa mobile money usage and ride earnings stability, to offer affordable financing options for drivers.
The company says its model promotes financial inclusion by helping drivers establish creditworthiness and providing automated risk assessments for loan approvals, enabling efficient scaling and sustainable lending practices. This funding round follows Hakki’s Series B in 2023, where it raised 1.58 billion yen (USD 10.6 M), bringing its total funding to 1.83 billion yen (USD 12.3 M).
Hakki’s ability to build sustainable financial infrastructure in an underserved market has drawn interest from investors like Global Brain, which plans to leverage its expertise to support Hakki’s growth. With competition from other vehicle financing companies like Moove, Hakki intends to expand its lending portfolio, refine its technology, and explore opportunities in additional African markets, aiming to drive economic empowerment for taxi drivers through vehicle ownership.