Craft Silicon
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersNairobi, Kenya
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
Craft Silicon firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Craft Silicon
- Legal name
- Craft Silicon Limited
- Website
- https://craftsilicon.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Craft Silicon industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Core Banking Software
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132)
- akta.pro primary industry
- SME Banking Suite (Business Accounts, Invoicing, Payroll Integrations) (FSAGAAAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- BaaS Platforms & Sponsor Bank Enablement (FSAGALAA), Risk, Compliance & Controls for Embedded Finance (KYB/KYC/AML, Fraud, Disputes) (FSAGALAK), SME Sector/Specialty Banking (Vertical-focused: Healthcare, Agri, Tech, etc.) (FSABABAI)
Keywords
Where Craft Silicon is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nairobi
- HQ country
- Kenya
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices9 records
Markets served
Craft Silicon business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Software Licensing: Licensing of core banking, loan management, and fintech solutions to financial institutions. Includes perpetual and subscription-based licensing models.
- Software-as-a-Service (SaaS): Cloud-based delivery of banking solutions with recurring subscription fees for access to platform and updates.
- Implementation Services: Professional services for deployment, integration, and customization of banking solutions at client institutions.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels9 records
Craft Silicon product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Craft Silicon develops and licenses banking and financial-services software for banks, microfinance institutions, SACCOs, fund managers, agri-finance providers, and merchants. Its flagship Bankers Realm suite delivers core banking, loan management, mobile and omnichannel banking, AML, payments, and analytics, complemented by the Nimble lending suite (business, gold, vehicle, group, and individual loan origination) and innovation offerings such as Banking-as-a-Service, Cognitive Service Platform, Video Banking, Chat Business, and the TouristTap tap-to-phone payment solution. The company sells primarily through enterprise licensing, SaaS subscriptions, and implementation services to financial institutions across Africa, Asia, and the US.
Product overview
Craft Silicon offers a comprehensive fintech platform with a modular architecture centered on the Bankers Realm core banking system and Nimble lending suite. The portfolio includes core banking solutions (Bankers Realm Core Banking, Nimble Open API Core Banking), specialized loan origination systems (Nimble Business, Gold, and Vehicle Loan Origination, GLOW for group loans, IL-OS for individual loans), microfinance solutions (Bankers Realm Core Microfinance, TruCell Field Operations, BR TrackOD Overdue Management), and supplementary modules (Anti-Money Laundering, Agency Banking, Omnichannel Banking, BR Analytics). Innovation offerings include Cognitive Service Platform (AI), Chat Business Solution, Banking-as-a-Service, Video Banking, and TouristTap mobile payments. The platform processes over USD 5.5Bn daily across 254+ financial institutions in 30+ countries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Bankers Realm: Core banking solution platform for financial institutions
- GLOW
- IL-OS
- TruCell
- Spotit
- Nimble
- ELMA
- TouristTap
- Little Cab
Products and services
- Bankers Realm Core Banking Solution Enterprise-grade core banking platform that drives every process, client interaction, and channel integration for banks of all sizes, delivering scalable, secure core banking functionality.
- Nimble Open API Core Banking API-driven core banking solution enabling integration with third-party systems and modern fintech ecosystems.
- Bankers Realm Core Microfinance Core banking solution specifically designed for microfinance institutions handling high volume of group and individual loans.
- Bankers Realm SACCO Solution Comprehensive solution for Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs) combining collaborative technology with robust performance.
- Nimble Business Loan Origination System Manages complex proposal evaluation for Corporate and SME lending, addressing challenges like lack of collateral and delayed manual processes.
- Nimble Vehicle Loan Origination System API-driven vehicle loan origination and management platform with automated valuation, risk-based pricing, VAHAN/RTO integration, eKYC compliance, and GPS/IOT tracking for financed vehicles.
- Nimble Gold Loan Origination System Loan origination system for gold-backed lending with automated collateral assessment and valuation.
- Co-Lending Management System Collaborative lending solution where two financial institutions jointly provide financing to borrowers, enabling risk-sharing and broader customer reach.
- GLOW - Group Loan Origination Workflow Mobile-based group loan origination system enabling faster loan processing with best turnaround time for microfinance borrowers.
- IL-OS - Individual Loan Origination Workflow Individual loan origination workflow system supporting both group loans and individual loans with seamless provisioning.
- TruCell - Field Operations Mobile-based field operations system for collection and disbursement with real-time monitoring for better cash management.
- Mobile Banking Solution - ELMA Mobile banking application enabling customers to access banking services on-the-go through smartphones.
- Spotit - Buy Now Pay Later Buy Now, Pay Later solution enabling users to shop instantly and split payments directly through the mobile banking app.
- TouristTap Tap and pay mobile payment solution enabling tourists to make cash-free transactions using Visa/Mastercard on NFC-enabled smartphones, developed with KCB Bank and Visa.
- Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) Virtual banking platform enabling customers to experience full banking services remotely through smart devices.
- Cognitive Service Platform AI-driven solution delivering deep-dive insights for better decision making across financial services operations.
- BR Analytics - Predictive and Dashboarding Analytics platform delivering predictive insights and customizable dashboards for business performance visibility.
Quantifiable outcome
- Ujjivan Small Finance Bank completed core banking implementation across 661 branches in just 109 days
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Craft Silicon
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Craft Silicon technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
AI capability3 records
Feature10 records
Craft Silicon partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- Government of KenyaflagshipThe Government of Kenya, through Tourism Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano, has endorsed and launched TouristTap as a national initiative to boost tourism earnings and enable digital payments across the tourism sector. Tourism generates approximately KSh500 billion annually and supports nearly three million jobs.
- KCB BankcoreKCB Bank serves as the acquiring partner for the TouristTap platform, enabling cashless digital payments across Kenya's tourism sector. The partnership allows informal vendors at airports, hotels, national parks, and market traders to accept international payment methods through mobile phones.
- Visa / CyberSourcecoreVisa, through its CyberSource payment platform, provides the payment infrastructure for TouristTap, enabling tourists to tap and pay with Visa/Mastercard on NFC-enabled smartphones. This allows cash-free, machine-free transactions across Kenya's tourism ecosystem.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Craft Silicon competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- FIS: FIS (Fidelity National Information Services) is a global financial technology incumbent offering core banking, payments, lending, and capital markets software. As a broad incumbent, it competes with Craft Silicon in core banking modernization at large banks and MFIs.
- Temenos: Temenos is a long-standing global provider of core banking, wealth, and payments software serving retail, commercial, and microfinance banks. As a broad incumbent, it competes with Craft Silicon's full suite but at a much larger scale and with broader geographic coverage.
- Finastra: Finastra provides a broad portfolio of banking, lending, and capital markets software to financial institutions globally. It is a broad incumbent competing with Craft Silicon across core banking and lending modules, with much larger scale and broader product coverage.
Direct peers
- Backbase: Backbase is a digital banking platform provider offering omnichannel, onboarding, and engagement software layered on top of core banking systems. It overlaps directly with Craft Silicon's Omnichannel Banking, mobile banking (ELMA), and digital engagement products.
- Thought Machine: Thought Machine provides cloud-native core banking technology (Vault) to large banks and challenger banks worldwide. It targets the same core banking modernization use case as Craft Silicon's Bankers Realm, particularly where banks are replacing legacy on-premise systems.
- 10x Banking: 10x Banking provides a cloud-native core banking platform used by challenger and incumbent banks for digital transformation. It competes directly with Craft Silicon's core banking and digital banking modules in modernization deals.
- Mambu: Mambu is a cloud-native core banking SaaS platform serving banks, lenders, and fintechs globally. It competes most directly with Craft Silicon's Bankers Realm and Nimble Open API Core Banking, especially in emerging-market digital banking deployments.
Regional players
- Flutterwave: Flutterwave is an Africa-focused payments infrastructure company enabling merchants and banks to accept and disburse payments across the continent. It is a regional player whose merchant acquiring and payment switch capabilities overlap with Craft Silicon's merchant services and BREFT switch products.
- Cellulant: Cellulant is a pan-African payments and digital commerce platform serving banks, mobile network operators, and merchants across 35+ African countries. It is a regional peer that overlaps with Craft Silicon's payment switch and merchant services offerings within Africa.
Emerging players
- Branch International: Branch International is a digital lending and payments platform operating across Africa and other emerging markets, often working through partner banks. As an emerging player in digital lending infrastructure, it intersects with Craft Silicon's microfinance and virtual lending modules.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Craft Silicon social profiles
Digital presenceCraft Silicon compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Craft Silicon financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Craft Silicon leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Craft Silicon subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Craft Silicon funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Craft Silicon M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments2 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Craft Silicon
What does Craft Silicon do?
Craft Silicon develops and licenses banking and financial-services software for banks, microfinance institutions, SACCOs, fund managers, agri-finance providers, and merchants. Its flagship Bankers Realm suite delivers core banking, loan management, mobile and omnichannel banking, AML, payments, and analytics, complemented by the Nimble lending suite (business, gold, vehicle, group, and individual loan origination) and innovation offerings such as Banking-as-a-Service, Cognitive Service Platform, Video Banking, Chat Business, and the TouristTap tap-to-phone payment solution. The company sells primarily through enterprise licensing, SaaS subscriptions, and implementation services to financial institutions across Africa, Asia, and the US.
Is Craft Silicon a public or private company?
Craft Silicon is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Craft Silicon founded?
Craft Silicon was founded in 2000. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Craft Silicon based?
Craft Silicon is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, in the Africa region.
How does Craft Silicon make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Software Licensing is the primary driver. The others are software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and implementation Services.
Who are Craft Silicon's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are FIS, Temenos and Finastra. Direct peers are Backbase, Thought Machine, 10x Banking and Mambu. Regional players are Flutterwave and Cellulant. Branch International is listed as an emerging player.
Does Craft Silicon have an API?
Yes. Craft Silicon offers Nimble Open API Core Banking, an API-driven core banking solution that enables integration with third-party systems. The platform provides framework of APIs to integrate with 3rd party systems. Products like Nimble Vehicle Loan and Nimble Business Loan are described as API-driven architectures that integrate with existing tech stacks and third-party systems including RegTech and PayTech APIs.
What industry is Craft Silicon in?
Craft Silicon's product category is Core Banking Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAGAAAI, SME Banking Suite (Business Accounts, Invoicing, Payroll Integrations), with a secondary code of FSAGALAA, BaaS Platforms & Sponsor Bank Enablement. Its NAICS code is 5132.