Kopo Kopo
“Can a Kenyan M-PESA-native merchant payments platform become the full-stack SMB financial OS for East Africa under Moniepoint's ownership?”
Founded2011
HQNairobi, Kenya
Latest roundAcquired by Moniepoint (2023)
IndustryFintech / SMB banking
The story
Founded in Kenya to help SMBs accept Lipa Na M-PESA payments via a merchant-facing portal. Layered Business Cash Advance lending on top of payment flow data starting 2014, then expanded into outbound payments (Move Money) and overdraft credit. Acquired by Nigerian fintech Moniepoint in 2023 as part of Moniepoint's East Africa expansion. In 2024 secured a Digital Credit Provider license from CBK, formalizing the lending business under Kenya's new digital lender regime.
Product timeline
2014
Launched Business Cash Advance lending product for Kenyan SMBs.· lending
2023
Moniepoint cleared by Competition Authority of Kenya to acquire Kopo Kopo.· acquisition
2024
Received Digital Credit Provider license from Central Bank of Kenya.· lending
2024
Launched Kopo Kopo Overdraft — running line of credit for businesses.· lending
2024
Launched Move Money — unified outgoing payments (bank, M-PESA, paybill, till).· banking
Regulated entities
Digital Credit Provider (DCP)
Kenya (CBK) · 2024
Kopo Kopo, Inc.
The stack
Payments / PSP
Lipa Na M-PESA (Safaricom Daraja, self-operated merchant acquirer)Kopo Kopo Online Payments (STK Push, self-operated)
Banking / BaaS
FX & payouts
Accounting gap: significant