4G Capital
4G Capital is a Nairobi-headquartered fintech providing unsecured short-cycle working capital loans to 800K+ micro and small enterprises across Kenya and Uganda via a hybrid branch-and-mobile platform, using proprietary ML credit scoring and M-PESA/MTN integration.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersGrand Baie, Mauritius
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What 4G Capital does
4G Capital is a Jersey-incorporated fintech with operational headquarters in Nairobi that provides unsecured working capital loans to micro and small enterprises in Kenya and Uganda. Founded in 2013, the company operates a hybrid "touch-tech" model combining 226 physical branches and ~1,600 field agents with USSD and mobile app digital channels, integrated with M-PESA and MTN mobile money rails. Its four core products — UPIA (30-day working capital), KUZA (21-day retail finance distributed through FMCG partners such as P&G and Diageo), KAWI (green asset financing), and NXTGEN (B2B partnership credit) — target thin-file entrepreneurs with loan sizes ranging KSH 5K–360K, and the company reports 800K+ customers, 7.6M cumulative loans, and a 95% repayment rate.
Underlying the operation is a proprietary machine-learning credit assessment engine trained on internal behavioral and transactional data, which enables fully unsecured lending to a customer base that is 73% women-led and 53% rural. The company monetizes through interest and fees on its loan portfolio, with pricing structured progressively to reward loyalty — an 87% repeat customer rate reflects the embedded switching friction. Beyond direct lending, 4G Capital has begun to extend its platform through ecosystem partnerships (KUZA's distribution integrations) and the January 2026 Smartan investment, which broadens its SME services footprint beyond credit.
The company has raised an $18.5M Series C led by Lightrock in March 2022 and a $2M debt investment from GIF Growth in March 2026 to support East African expansion. It holds B Corp and 2X Challenge certifications, won Best Fintech at the 2025 African Banker Awards, and was recognized in the 2026 FT Fastest Growing Companies ranking.
4G Capital firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- 4G Capital
- Legal name
- FOURTH GENERATION CAPITAL GROUP LIMITED
- Website
- https://4g-capital.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- 4G Capital is a Nairobi-headquartered fintech providing unsecured short-cycle working capital loans to 800K+ micro and small enterprises across Kenya and Uganda via a hybrid branch-and-mobile platform, using proprietary ML credit scoring and M-PESA/MTN integration.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
4G Capital industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Micro-enterprise Lending
- NAICS
- Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (522), Sales Financing (52222)
- SIC
- Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Microloans & Working Capital Loans (FSAKAGAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- SME Lending & Working Capital Platforms (FSAGAJAA), SME Term Loans & Growth Capital (FSAKAGAB)
Keywords
Where 4G Capital is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Grand Baie
- HQ country
- Mauritius
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices3 records
Markets served
4G Capital business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Working Capital Loans: Provides short-term unsecured working capital loans to micro and small enterprises with terms ranging from 30 days. Revenue generated through interest and fees on loans disbursed. Loan sizes range from KSH 5,000 to KSH 360,000 depending on product.
- Retail Finance (KUZA): 21-day retail financing offered as stock credit through distributor partner networks. Revenue derived from interest on inventory financing to retailers.
- Green Asset Financing (KAWI): Provides inventory and asset financing for eco-friendly technologies including solar panels, electric vehicles, and green-tech products with flexible payment plans.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Monthly | UPIA: 30-day unsecured working capital loans from KSH 5,000 - 149,999 |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | KUZA: 21-day retail financing from KSH 5,000 - 360,000 |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | KAWI: Green asset financing with approximately 10% deposit required |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels10 records
4G Capital product offering
Product offeringCore offering
4G Capital provides unsecured working capital loans and asset financing to micro and small enterprises in Kenya and Uganda through four products: UPIA (30-day working capital), KUZA (21-day retail/stock credit via distributors), KAWI (green asset financing), and NXTGEN (institutional partnership lending). The company combines a proprietary AI/ML credit-scoring platform with a hybrid 'touch-tech' distribution model using 226 branches, 1,600 field agents, USSD (*612#), a mobile app, and M-PESA/MTN Mobile Money rails for instant disbursement and repayment. Every loan includes business training (HerVenture app and in-person coaching).
Product overview
4G Capital operates as a neobank serving micro and small enterprises (MSEs) across Kenya and Uganda through a portfolio of four distinct lending products. The core offerings include UPIA (flagship 30-day unsecured working capital loans with in-person support), KUZA (21-day retail financing through distributor networks), KAWI (sustainable asset financing for green-tech businesses), and NXTGEN (partnership solutions for institutional investors). All products are delivered through a hybrid 'touch-tech' model combining digital platforms with field agent networks, and include business training components. The company leverages proprietary machine learning technology for credit assessment and uses Mobile Money (M-PESA in Kenya, MTN in Uganda) for loan disbursements and repayments.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- UPIA: Instant business boost - 30-day working capital loan from local branches with in-person support and business training. Loan ranges from KSH 5,000 to KSH 149,999 with flexible repayments.
- KUZA
- KAWI
- NXTGEN
Products and services
- UPIA Flagship 30-day unsecured working capital loan product offered to micro and small enterprises in Kenya and Uganda, with loan sizes ranging from KSH 5,000 to KSH 149,999. Disbursed instantly via M-PESA (Kenya) or MTN Mobile Money (Uganda) and repaid through mobile money. Includes loyalty-based pricing that rewards good repayment history, in-person branch and field-officer support, and business training. No collateral or guarantors required.
- KUZA 21-day retail financing product offered as stock credit to retailers purchasing inventory through partner FMCG distributors and manufacturers. Loan sizes range from KSH 5,000 to KSH 360,000, with instant mobile money disbursement and pay-as-you-go repayment tied to business sales margins.
- KAWI Asset and inventory financing product for green technology businesses, including eco-briquette makers, solar panel manufacturers, electric vehicle companies, recycling businesses, and irrigation solution providers. Requires approximately 10% deposit and offers flexible pay-as-you-go repayment plans.
- NXTGEN Partnership-for-impact product that allows impact funds, NGOs, and financial institutions to allocate capital to grassroots micro and small businesses through off-balance-sheet lending powered by 4G Capital's proprietary technology, training resources, and field infrastructure.
Quantifiable outcome
- 95% repayment rate demonstrating portfolio quality and responsible lending
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use 4G Capital
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
4G Capital technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability3 records
Feature3 records
4G Capital partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship, strategic and minor.
- FMCG Distributors and ManufacturerscorePartnership with FMCG distributors and manufacturers including P&G and Diageo to provide retail finance through KUZA product. Works with distributors to offer 21-day stock credit to retailers via seamless IT integration.
- Jiinue Growth Program Partners (GROOTS Kenya, Powered by People, KNCCI)flagshipFive-year initiative empowering 229,500 MSMEs across Kenya through affordable financing, technical assistance, and mentorship. 4G Capital collaborates with GROOTS Kenya, Powered by People, and KNCCI to build resilience, foster innovation, and create jobs for youth and women.
- Cherie Blair Foundation for WomenstrategicPilot collaboration providing HerVenture training app to women entrepreneurs. 4G Capital introduces the app to customers, enabling women to access financial literacy training at their own pace through mobile learning.
- PowerhiveminorPartnership enabling electric boda-boda financing through Powerhive's distribution network. Powerhive customers access 4G Capital's affordable financing options to own electric bikes.
- Safaricom (M-PESA)coreMobile money integration enabling instant loan disbursements and repayments via M-PESA. Customers must have registered Safaricom line in Kenya to access services.
- MTN UgandacoreMobile money integration in Uganda enabling instant loan disbursements and repayments via MTN Mobile Money. Customers must have registered MTN line in Uganda.
- CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor)strategicFeatured as inclusive Credit Fintech in CGAP research on innovative financing strategies for reaching underserved MSEs in Africa. Highlights challenges of unsecured lending platforms working with thin-file entrepreneurs.
Scale indicators18 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
4G Capital competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Kiva: Kiva is a global non-profit micro-lending platform facilitating crowdfunded loans to underserved entrepreneurs. It competes for the same financial-inclusion narrative and impact capital pool as 4G Capital.
- M-Shwari (Safaricom/NCBA): M-Shwari is the dominant mobile savings and loan product embedded in M-Pesa, serving tens of millions of Kenyan mobile users. It competes directly with 4G Capital in micro-lending and represents the largest incumbent threat.
Direct peers
- Branch International: Branch is a mobile lending platform serving underbanked consumers and small businesses across Africa and other emerging markets. It is one of the closest direct competitors to 4G Capital, offering similar short-term digital loans via mobile phones to thin-file borrowers.
- Tala: Tala provides mobile-based credit to underbanked customers in emerging markets using smartphone data for underwriting. It competes directly with 4G Capital in serving informal entrepreneurs excluded from traditional banking.
- M-Kopa: M-Kopa is a Kenya-based pay-as-you-go solar and asset financing platform serving similar off-grid and informal customers. The new CEO of 4G Capital was previously MD of M-Kopa Uganda, reflecting close operational and target-customer overlap.
- Carbon (formerly Paylater): Carbon is a digital lending platform serving underbanked individuals and SMEs across Nigeria and other African markets. Its mobile-first, data-driven lending model directly parallels 4G Capital's UPIA offering.
- Apollo Agriculture: Apollo Agriculture provides credit and farming inputs to smallholder farmers in Kenya using ML-based credit scoring. It overlaps with 4G Capital's agricultural value chain financing under the Jiinue Growth Program.
- Pezesha: Pezesha is a Kenyan digital lending marketplace connecting SMEs with multiple lenders. It shares 4G Capital's SME working-capital focus and serves a similar Kenyan small-business customer base.
Regional players
- Lulalend: Lulalend is a South African SME digital lending platform offering working capital to small businesses. It is comparable in business model but operates in a different geography from 4G Capital.
Others
- Safaricom (M-Pesa): Safaricom is the operator of M-Pesa and 4G Capital's most critical infrastructure partner in Kenya. While not a direct credit competitor in the SME segment, it sets the rails and competitive context for 4G Capital's entire operating model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
4G Capital social profiles
Digital presence4G Capital financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
4G Capital leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
4G Capital funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors7 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
4G Capital 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 4G Capital
What does 4G Capital do?
4G Capital provides unsecured working capital loans and asset financing to micro and small enterprises in Kenya and Uganda through four products: UPIA (30-day working capital), KUZA (21-day retail/stock credit via distributors), KAWI (green asset financing), and NXTGEN (institutional partnership lending). The company combines a proprietary AI/ML credit-scoring platform with a hybrid 'touch-tech' distribution model using 226 branches, 1,600 field agents, USSD (*612#), a mobile app, and M-PESA/MTN Mobile Money rails for instant disbursement and repayment. Every loan includes business training (HerVenture app and in-person coaching).
Is 4G Capital a public or private company?
4G Capital is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was 4G Capital founded?
4G Capital was founded in 2013. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is 4G Capital based?
4G Capital is headquartered in Grand Baie, Mauritius, in the Africa region.
How does 4G Capital make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Working Capital Loans are the primary driver. The others are retail Finance (KUZA) and green Asset Financing (KAWI).
Who are 4G Capital's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Kiva and M-Shwari (Safaricom/NCBA). Direct peers are Branch International, Tala, M-Kopa, Carbon (formerly Paylater), Apollo Agriculture and Pezesha. Lulalend is listed as a regional player. Safaricom (M-Pesa) is listed as an others.
Does 4G Capital have an API?
No public API is recorded for 4G Capital.
What industry is 4G Capital in?
4G Capital's product category is Micro-enterprise Lending. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAKAGAA, Microloans & Working Capital Loans, with a secondary code of FSAGAJAA, SME Lending & Working Capital Platforms. Its NAICS code is 522 and its SIC code is 6153.