Untapped Global
Untapped Global is a fintech that provides revenue-share financing for IoT-enabled, revenue-generating assets deployed through tech-enabled portfolio companies in emerging markets, funded by accredited US investors via 12–36 month notes yielding 6–14% annually.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Untapped Global does
Untapped Global is a Delaware-incorporated fintech operating a Smart Asset Financing™ platform that deploys capital into revenue-generating, IoT-enabled assets managed by tech-enabled companies in Africa and Latin America. The platform's three integrated products are: (1) the Smart Asset Financing model, which provides growth capital to portfolio companies in exchange for a share of each financed asset's revenue rather than fixed interest payments, with automated repayment via payment integration; (2) an Online Investment Platform that issues 12–36 month notes to accredited US investors at 6–14% fixed annual yields; and (3) a Data Platform that captures over 27 million real-time data points from 55,000+ financed assets to drive underwriting, portfolio monitoring, and impact reporting.
The company serves two primary segments: growth-stage asset-heavy companies in emerging markets (e-mobility, clean energy, water, agriculture, healthcare, fintech) that require flexible scaling capital and do not fit traditional VC or bank models; and US-based accredited investors seeking emerging-market exposure with measurable impact. Founded by Jim Chu (formerly of dloHaiti), the company operates from offices in Dover/San Francisco (US, registered and operational HQ) and Nairobi (Kenya, regional HQ), and has deployed capital across 12+ countries in East, West, and Southern Africa and Latin America. Portfolio companies include Asaak, Paga, Ewaka Mobility, MARAMOJA, OX Delivers, Ilara Health, Zembo, Koolboks, 4G Capital, Flexclub, Watu, and Solar Taxi.
The business has raised over $14 million in total funding (a $10.3M pre-seed in May 2022 and a $3M seed in September 2023 led by E3 Capital's Low Carbon Economy Fund). Reported scale metrics as of January 2025 include 578,231 entrepreneurs supported, $46.5M in revenue catalyzed for entrepreneurs, $3.83 of SME revenue catalyzed per $1 invested, and 2,243 tons of CO2 displaced. The company's GTM combines a self-serve accredited-investor platform (with phased B2B financing tiers: Pilot at $50K–$150K and Scale-Up at $1M–$5M+ per year) and strategic co-investment partnerships for deal flow.
Untapped Global firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Untapped Global
- Legal name
- Untapped Invest, Inc.
- Website
- https://untapped-global.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Untapped Global is a fintech that provides revenue-share financing for IoT-enabled, revenue-generating assets deployed through tech-enabled portfolio companies in emerging markets, funded by accredited US investors via 12–36 month notes yielding 6–14% annually.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Untapped Global industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Emerging Market Asset Financing
- NAICS
- Sales Financing (52222), Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259)
- SIC
- Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153), Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Trade Finance & Supply Chain Finance Platforms (FSAGAJAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Execution-Only / Self-Directed Investing Platforms (FSAAAAAI), SDG / Thematic Sustainable Investment Funds (FSANAJAN)
Keywords
Where Untapped Global is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Untapped Global business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Revenue Share Financing: Untapped finances revenue-generating assets and collects a share of each asset's revenues to repay the financing. The more the entrepreneur makes, the higher the yield on financing. Revenue share is automated through payment integration with portfolio companies.
- Investment Management Fees: Generates fees from managing investment capital on behalf of accredited investors. Offers investment notes with fixed annual yields of 6-14% paid quarterly or at maturity.
- Asset Deployment Financing: Provides capital to portfolio companies for deploying assets to entrepreneurs. Revenue earned through revenue-share arrangements as assets generate income.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Outcome Based/ Performance | Pay-as-you-go | Investment Notes for Accredited Investors |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Untapped Global product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Untapped Global finances revenue-generating assets (motorcycles, vehicles, equipment, devices) deployed by growth-stage tech-enabled companies to entrepreneurs in Africa and emerging markets, using a proprietary Smart Asset Financing™ revenue-share model. It operates an online investment platform offering accredited US investors 12–36 month notes with 6–14% fixed annual yields, backed by a real-time IoT data platform that captures over 27 million data points from 55,000+ financed assets for underwriting, portfolio monitoring, and impact reporting.
Product overview
Untapped Global operates as a unified platform combining three core offerings: Smart Asset Financing™ (the financing model), an Online Investment Platform (for investor access), and a Data Platform (for real-time monitoring). The Smart Asset Financing model funds revenue-generating smart assets deployed through portfolio companies, with financing structured as revenue-share rather than fixed interest. The Data Platform captures real-time IoT data from over 55,000 financed assets to drive underwriting decisions and provide investor transparency. The Online Investment Platform enables global investors to access these opportunities with 12-36 month investment notes.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Smart Asset Financing™: The company's proprietary financing model that uses real-time data and IoT technology to finance revenue-generating assets for entrepreneurs in emerging markets, with a revenue-share repayment structure.
Products and services
- Smart Asset Financing™ Proprietary financing model that provides capital to tech-enabled, capital-intensive businesses in emerging markets by financing revenue-generating, IoT-enabled smart assets deployed through portfolio companies. Uses a revenue-share repayment structure rather than fixed interest or rigid monthly payments, targeting growth-stage companies that do not fit the traditional venture capital model.
- Online Investment Platform Self-service online platform for global investors (currently serving accredited US investors with US bank accounts) to access investment notes in emerging markets. Notes carry 12–36 month tenors and pay 6–14% fixed annual yield with optional quarterly payouts, with portfolio performance and impact data visible to investors.
- Data Platform Real-time IoT-based data platform that tracks asset usage and revenue generation across the portfolio, capturing over 27 million data points from 55,000+ financed assets. Supports real-time due diligence, automated repayment processing through payment integration, investor transparency, and impact measurement.
Quantifiable outcome
- 578,231 entrepreneurs supported since 2021
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Untapped Global
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Untapped Global technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability3 records
Feature4 records
Untapped Global partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- AsaakcoreUgandan fintech startup providing motorcycle financing for boda-boda drivers. Untapped provides capital to deploy assets through Asaak's platform. Partnership enables financial inclusion for gig economy workers across Africa.
- PagacoreNigeria's leading mobile money company. Untapped provides growth capital to support Paga's expansion. Partnership aims to enable 1 billion people to access financial services.
- OX DeliverscoreRwanda-based logistics company with electric trucks for remote terrain. Portfolio company whose trucks were named Time Magazine's best invention 2022. Untapped provides capital for fleet expansion.
- ZembocoreUgandan electric motorcycle company with solar battery swapping infrastructure. Untapped provides financing for deployment of e-motorcycles to boda-boda drivers.
- KoolbokscoreNigerian solar refrigeration company. Untapped provides capital for deploying solar cooling units to women-run small businesses across Nigeria.
- Ilara HealthcoreKenyan healthcare company making diagnostics accessible and affordable. Untapped provides capital for deploying point-of-care testing devices.
- 4G CapitalcoreKenyan fintech providing working capital loans to MSMEs. Untapped partnership enables $15.7M deployed monthly to small businesses in Kenya and Uganda.
- FlexclubcoreSubscription marketplace for vehicles and vehicle leasing companies in Mexico and South Africa. Increases employment and ownership opportunities for rideshare drivers.
- WatucoreUgandan financing tools provider for entrepreneurs, particularly motorbikes. Untapped provides capital for asset deployment.
- Solar TaxicoreGhanaian company providing electric vehicles (motorcycles) for gig workers. Untapped provides financing for EV fleet expansion.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Untapped Global competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Kiva: Kiva is a P2P lending platform enabling individuals to fund loans to entrepreneurs in emerging markets, including for productive assets. Most comparable in mission and target borrower base, though it operates as a nonprofit model versus Untapped's investor-note structure.
- Tugende: Tugende provides asset financing (primarily motorcycles) to entrepreneurs in Uganda and East Africa using a lease-to-own model with similar income-based repayment mechanics. Operates in Untapped's core market and target asset class, making it a direct competitor for portfolio company deals.
- Carbon (formerly Paylater): Carbon is a leading digital lending platform in Nigeria providing consumer and SME credit to underbanked customers. Comparable as an African fintech lender using alternative data for underwriting, though focused on consumer/SME cash loans rather than revenue-share asset financing.
- Branch International: Branch provides instant digital loans to underserved customers in Africa and other emerging markets via mobile app, using alternative data for underwriting. Direct competitor in EM digital lending with a similar focus on serving underbanked entrepreneurs.
- Tala: Tala is a mobile lending platform serving underbanked customers in emerging markets (Kenya, Mexico, Philippines, India) using smartphone data for credit decisions. Comparable emerging market digital lender with similar data-driven underwriting approach.
- Lulalend: Lulalend is a South African fintech providing working capital loans to small businesses. Comparable as a fintech lender targeting underserved SMEs in Africa, with similar focus on capital access for growth-stage businesses.
Emerging players
- Wayflyer: Wayflyer provides revenue-based financing to e-commerce and DTC brands, using revenue-share mechanics similar to Untapped's model. Comparable financing structure, though focused on e-commerce in developed markets rather than emerging market asset financing.
- Capchase: Capchase provides revenue-share financing to B2B SaaS companies, offering non-dilutive capital tied to recurring revenue. Comparable revenue-share financing model and digital platform delivery, though focused on SaaS rather than emerging market asset financing.
Broad incumbents
- LeapFrog Investments: LeapFrog is a large-scale impact-focused PE firm investing in financial services and healthcare across emerging markets in Africa and Asia. Comparable in serving emerging market SMEs via growth capital, though significantly larger and operating a traditional PE fund structure.
- ASA International: ASA International is one of the world's largest microfinance institutions, providing small loans to underserved entrepreneurs across Asia and Africa. Comparable in serving underbanked entrepreneurs in emerging markets, though operating at much larger scale through traditional microfinance lending.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Untapped Global social profiles
Digital presenceUntapped Global financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Untapped Global leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Untapped Global funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Untapped Global M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments18 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Untapped Global
What does Untapped Global do?
Untapped Global finances revenue-generating assets (motorcycles, vehicles, equipment, devices) deployed by growth-stage tech-enabled companies to entrepreneurs in Africa and emerging markets, using a proprietary Smart Asset Financing™ revenue-share model. It operates an online investment platform offering accredited US investors 12–36 month notes with 6–14% fixed annual yields, backed by a real-time IoT data platform that captures over 27 million data points from 55,000+ financed assets for underwriting, portfolio monitoring, and impact reporting.
Is Untapped Global a public or private company?
Untapped Global is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Untapped Global founded?
Untapped Global was founded in 2021. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Untapped Global based?
Untapped Global is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Untapped Global make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Revenue Share Financing is the primary driver. The others are investment Management Fees and asset Deployment Financing.
Who are Untapped Global's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Kiva, Tugende, Carbon (formerly Paylater), Branch International, Tala and Lulalend. Emerging players are Wayflyer and Capchase. Broad incumbents are LeapFrog Investments and ASA International.
Does Untapped Global have an API?
No public API is recorded for Untapped Global.
What industry is Untapped Global in?
Untapped Global's product category is Emerging Market Asset Financing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAGAJAL, Trade Finance & Supply Chain Finance Platforms, with a secondary code of FSAAAAAI, Execution-Only / Self-Directed Investing Platforms. Its NAICS code is 52222 and its SIC code is 6153.