Pezesha
Pezesha is a Nairobi-based digital financial marketplace, founded in 2016, that uses its Patascore AI credit-scoring engine to extend collateral-free working capital, float and LPO financing to under-served MSMEs across Kenya, Uganda, Ghana and Nigeria, and licenses its scoring infrastructure to banks and platforms via APIs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersNairobi, Kenya
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Pezesha does
Pezesha (legal entity: Pezesha Africa Limited) is a Nairobi-headquartered, pan-African digital financial marketplace founded in 2016 that connects under-served micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to short-tenor working capital, float financing and LPO financing without collateral. Its core consumer-facing product, the Pezesha Marketplace (and the Biashara Loan product beneath it), delivers instant credit decisions via a mobile app (Android) and web channel, with loan tickets up to KES 1,000,000, terms of 7-30 days (extendable to 60 days for repeat borrowers and up to 12 months for established borrowers), and pricing of 2-7% per month based on Patascore's credit score. The company's underlying technology stack is built around Patascore, its proprietary AI alternative credit-scoring engine, which ingests 300M+ alternative data points (mobile money transactions, bank statements, supply chain activity) to issue real-time credit decisions with a stated long-term default rate of under 3% across more than 500,000 vetted MSMEs in the ecosystem.
Pezesha operates a dual B2B2C and direct-to-SME business model. On the consumer side, it earns net interest income on its own balance sheet plus transactional spreads, and monetizes institutional lender capital deployed through the platform (withdrawal fees, e.g., $18 per foreign investor withdrawal, and targeted lender returns of 10-15% APR net of Kenyan withholding tax). On the B2B side, Patascore and the Pezesha Loan Management System are offered as APIs and white-label infrastructure (docs.patascore.com, docs.pezesha.com) to financial institutions and platforms, generating subscription and usage-based revenue that the company is preparing to formalize through an independent Patascore entity from 2026. Distribution spans direct mobile-app self-service (PLG), embedded integrations with partners including Pesapal (Uganda), Marketforce, Victory Farms, One Acre Fund, Safaricom/M-Pesa, DPO Group, and FI partnerships with NCBA, I&M Bank, Stanbic, Absa, Faulu and Letshego. Elimiza, an AI-powered financial-literacy tool delivered via SMS, USSD and mobile, sits as a credit-readiness layer targeted at women and MSMEs.
Pezesha is regulated by the Central Bank of Kenya as a Digital Credit Provider (licensed February 2023) and is a registered data controller under Kenyan law. It operates in Kenya, Uganda, Ghana and Nigeria, with $2M+ stated monthly revolving disbursement volume and cumulative funding of roughly $13M+ across multiple rounds since 2016, including a $6M round led by Women's World Banking in August 2022. Founder Hilda Moraa leads the company as CEO; the broader leadership team is lean (a 50+ headcount) and the firm was recognized as a 2026 World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer, the only African fintech in that cohort.
Pezesha firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pezesha
- Legal name
- Pezesha Africa Limited
- Website
- https://pezesha.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Pezesha is a Nairobi-based digital financial marketplace, founded in 2016, that uses its Patascore AI credit-scoring engine to extend collateral-free working capital, float and LPO financing to under-served MSMEs across Kenya, Uganda, Ghana and Nigeria, and licenses its scoring infrastructure to banks and platforms via APIs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pezesha industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Digital SME Lending Platform
- NAICS
- Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (522), Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers (52231)
- SIC
- Loan Brokers (6163), Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153)
- akta.pro primary industry
- SME Lending Platforms & Embedded SME Credit (FSAKAGAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Embedded Lending & Credit (POS, Working Capital, Credit Lines) (FSAGALAD), SME Lending & Working Capital Platforms (FSAGAJAA), SME Credit Underwriting, Scoring & Risk Analytics (FSAKAGAL)
Keywords
Where Pezesha is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nairobi
- HQ country
- Kenya
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices2 records
Markets served
Pezesha business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- SME Loan Interest: Pezesha earns interest income from loans extended to MSMEs. Interest rates range from 2-7% per month based on credit score. Loan amounts up to KES 1,000,000 with terms of 7-30 days (extendable to 60 days for repeat borrowers).
- B2B API/Platform Fees (Patascore): Patascore, the B2B business line, generates revenue through API access fees, credit scoring API usage, and loan management system (LMS) fees charged to financial institutions and platforms for embedded credit infrastructure.
- Lender Returns: Platform facilitates lending between institutional investors/lenders and MSMEs. Pezesha earns spreads and transaction charges on lender withdrawals ($18 per withdrawal for foreign investors).
- Supply Chain Finance Revenue: Revenue from embedded inventory credit products where merchants access working capital through supply chain partner integrations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | MSME Loans |
| Outcome Based/ Performance | Monthly | Lender Returns |
| Subscription | Monthly | Patascore B2B APIs |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Pezesha product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Pezesha operates a digital lending marketplace that connects African micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to working capital through AI-powered alternative credit scoring and a curated network of lenders and investors. The platform offers unsecured business loans, supply chain financing, and an embedded B2B credit-decisioning API (Patascore) for financial institutions seeking to serve thin-file borrowers.
Product overview
Pezesha operates as a pan-African embedded finance platform built around a unified digital ecosystem that bridges MSME access to working capital and intelligent risk assessment. The portfolio consists of the Pezesha Marketplace as the core SME lending platform; Patascore as the AI-driven alternative credit scoring engine (offered as B2B Credit Scoring APIs); Elimiza as an AI-powered financial literacy add-on; Supply Chain Finance for embedded inventory credit; and Biashara Loan as the primary SME loan product. Pezesha as a Service provides the embedded infrastructure layer enabling financial institution partners to co-create and distribute SME lending products through Pezesha's AI infrastructure and MSME network. The company is licensed by Kenya's Central Bank as a Digital Credit Provider and serves SMEs across Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, and Nigeria.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Patascore: AI-powered alternative credit scoring infrastructure and APIs that enable real-time credit decisions using alternative data points.
- Elimiza
Products and services
- Pezesha Marketplace
- Patascore
- Biashara Loan
- Supply Chain Financing
- Elimiza
Quantifiable outcome
- Default rate reduced to <3% through alternative credit scoring
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Pezesha
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Pezesha technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability5 records
Feature5 records
Pezesha partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- PesapalcoreStrategic partnership to pilot data-driven credit solution targeting Uganda's SMEs. Leverages real-time transaction data to extend responsible credit to underserved merchants. Aligns with Bank of Uganda's National Financial Inclusion Strategy (2023-2028).
- NCBAcoreFinancial institution partner; NCBA logo appears in partners section indicating embedded finance or credit scoring partnership.
- I&M BankcoreFinancial institution partner in East Africa; appears in trusted lenders and partners section.
- Stanbic BankcoreFinancial institution partner; appears in trusted partners section for SME lending infrastructure.
- SafaricommajorKenyan telecom operator partner; M-Pesa integration for mobile money-based credit scoring and disbursement.
- AbsacoreFinancial institution partner; appears in trusted lenders and partners section.
- Faulu BankmajorKenyan microfinance bank partner for SME lending.
- LetshegomajorPan-African microfinance institution partner.
- Victory FarmsminorAquaculture company using Pezesha for merchant financing; testimonial provided by their team.
- MarketforceminorB2B commerce platform; merchant financing partnership with testimonial from Tyler.
- One Acre FundminorAgricultural social enterprise partner for farmer financing programs.
- TechnoServeminorNonprofit business solutions provider; impact-focused partnership.
- MEDAminorInternational economic development organization; impact financing partnership.
- AccionminorGlobal nonprofit focused on financial inclusion; partner for SME lending programs.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Pezesha competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Tala: Tala is a leading digital lender serving underbanked consumers and small businesses across Africa and other emerging markets using alternative credit scoring. Direct competitor in the African MSME digital lending category with comparable AI-driven underwriting approach.
- Branch International: Branch provides instant digital loans to consumers and small businesses across Africa, Kenya, and other emerging markets using mobile data for credit decisions. Closely comparable in terms of African MSME lending focus and alternative data underwriting.
- Carbon (formerly Paylater): Carbon is a Nigerian digital lending platform offering personal and SME loans via mobile app with credit scoring based on alternative data. Direct competitor in the African digital lending space with overlapping MSME borrower segments.
- M-Shwari: M-Shwari is a Safaricom and NCBA Bank joint venture offering mobile-based savings and loans to M-Pesa customers in Kenya. Competes directly with Pezesha in Kenyan MSME digital lending with structural distribution advantages from M-Pesa.
- Jumo: Jumo provides embedded financial services including credit to consumers and SMEs across Africa through partnerships with mobile network operators and banks. Directly comparable embedded finance infrastructure business model targeting African MSMEs.
- Lulalend: Lulalend is a South African online lender providing working capital loans to small businesses using alternative data and credit scoring. Comparable MSME working capital focus with similar digital-first underwriting model.
Emerging players
- Kiva: Kiva is a non-profit crowdfunding platform enabling crowdfunded loans to underserved entrepreneurs globally. Comparable marketplace lending model connecting lenders to MSMEs, though operating through different distribution mechanisms.
Broad incumbents
- M-Kopa: M-Kopa provides pay-as-you-go solar energy and digital financial services to underbanked customers across East Africa. Overlaps with Pezesha's MSME financial inclusion mission and East African footprint.
- Flutterwave: Flutterwave is a major African payment infrastructure provider serving businesses and developers across the continent. While broader in scope, it shares Pezesha's Pan-African fintech infrastructure orientation and enables commerce for SMEs that Pezesha lends to.
Regional players
- Cellulant: Cellulant is a Pan-African digital payments platform operating across multiple African markets with embedded finance capabilities. Comparable regional footprint and Pan-African fintech infrastructure positioning.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Pezesha social profiles
Digital presencePezesha compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Pezesha financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pezesha leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Pezesha funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds10 records
Investors15 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pezesha M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Pezesha
What does Pezesha do?
Pezesha operates a digital lending marketplace that connects African micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to working capital through AI-powered alternative credit scoring and a curated network of lenders and investors. The platform offers unsecured business loans, supply chain financing, and an embedded B2B credit-decisioning API (Patascore) for financial institutions seeking to serve thin-file borrowers.
Is Pezesha a public or private company?
Pezesha is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Pezesha founded?
Pezesha was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Pezesha based?
Pezesha is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, in the Africa region.
How does Pezesha make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. SME Loan Interest is the primary driver. The others are B2B API/Platform Fees (Patascore), lender Returns and supply Chain Finance Revenue.
Who are Pezesha's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Tala, Branch International, Carbon (formerly Paylater), M-Shwari, Jumo and Lulalend. Kiva is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are M-Kopa and Flutterwave. Cellulant is listed as a regional player.
Does Pezesha have an API?
Yes. Pezesha offers public-facing APIs for credit scoring and lending infrastructure. Credit Scoring APIs are available via Patascore (docs.patascore.com), enabling alternative credit scoring using 300M+ alternative data points including mobile money, bank statements, and supply chain activity. APIs power real-time credit decisions with under 3% default rate for partner financial institutions. Pezesha APIs documentation is available at docs.pezesha.com. Developer documentation is at docs.pezesha.com.
What industry is Pezesha in?
Pezesha's product category is Digital SME Lending Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAKAGAJ, SME Lending Platforms & Embedded SME Credit, with a secondary code of FSAGALAD, Embedded Lending & Credit (POS, Working Capital, Credit Lines). Its NAICS code is 522 and its SIC code is 6163.