StokFella
StokFella is a South African fintech platform that digitizes and regulates community savings groups (stokvels), offering mobile, WhatsApp, and web-based account management, a two-sided bulk-purchase marketplace, and insurance add-ons to 42,000+ members across 3,000+ clubs.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersFourways, South Africa
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What StokFella does
StokFella is a South African fintech platform founded in 2016 that digitizes the management of stokvels — traditional community savings groups in which members pool regular contributions and disburse funds for shared purposes ranging from funeral costs to bulk grocery purchases to property investment. The platform is offered as a mobile-first application (native iOS and Android), a WhatsApp-integrated onboarding and support interface, and a web portal, with cash deposit accessibility across more than 5,100 retail locations including Shoprite, Pick n Pay, Pep, Spar, and Ackermans. StokFella holds multiple regulatory authorizations — Financial Services Provider (FSP48812) under the FAIS Act, Credit Provider (NCRCP12735) under the National Credit Act, FICA compliance, and POPIA-aligned data practices — providing regulated custody and intermediation of member funds.
The core technology layer combines digital stokvel account management, contribution collection with debit-order verification (Debi-Check), member and executive administration tools, voting and meeting modules, and a recently launched two-sided StokFella Marketplace (October 2025) connecting verified stokvel groups with vetted sellers. The platform monetizes via a freemium subscription model: Club (free, up to 10 members, 2.50% interest pa), Gold (R199/month, 5.50% interest), and Platinum (R599/month, 6.25% interest), supplemented by marketplace transaction fees of 8-12% on seller volume, optional add-ons (executive workbooks, 1-on-1 coaching, AI assistant, fraud/affordability/credit checks, insurance benefits), and third-party banking fees.
StokFella serves seven primary customer verticals: burial societies, grocery stokvels, property investment stokvels, savings clubs, agricultural groups, franchise-investment groups, and workplace umagolisana. As of the available data, the platform reports 42,229+ members across 3,035+ savings clubs with R228,470,585 in cumulative transactions. The company is co-founded and led by Tshepo Moloi (CEO) and Pearson Maake (Head of Stokvel Sales), with fractional executives serving as CFO, CMO, and CTO; it operates as a largely bootstrapped private company from Bryanston, Sandton.
StokFella firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- StokFella
- Legal name
- StokFella (Pty) Ltd
- Website
- https://stokfella.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- StokFella is a South African fintech platform that digitizes and regulates community savings groups (stokvels), offering mobile, WhatsApp, and web-based account management, a two-sided bulk-purchase marketplace, and insurance add-ons to 42,000+ members across 3,000+ clubs.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
StokFella industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Savings / Stokvel Management Software
- NAICS
- Finance and Insurance (52)
- SIC
- Finance Services (6199)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Savings Automation & Goal-Based Savings (FSAGADAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Digital Retirement Platforms (IRA/401(k), Pension & Decumulation) (FSAGAEAF)
Keywords
Where StokFella is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Fourways
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices1 record
Markets served
StokFella business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Subscription Plans: Three-tier subscription model: Club (Free, up to 10 members), Gold (R199/month, up to 15 members + R100 per 10 additional members), Platinum (R599/month, up to 15 members + R90 per 10 additional members). Revenue from monthly recurring subscriptions based on group size and plan tier.
- Marketplace Transaction Fees: Sellers on the Marketplace pay per-transaction fees: Starter Plan at 12%, Growth Plan at 8% per transaction. Setup cost of R1,499.99 for new sellers. Revenue from facilitating bulk purchases between stokvels and verified sellers.
- Interest on Savings: Stokvel funds earn interest through linked financial products. Interest rates vary by plan: Club 2.50% pa, Gold 5.50% pa, Platinum 6.25% pa. Interest calculated daily and accrued monthly. Revenue may be generated through spreads on interest.
- Add-on Services: Optional premium services including Executive Workbooks (R300-R1,200), 1-on-1 Coaching (R2,500-R4,500), Member Affordability Check, Member Fraud Check, and Member Credit Check. Revenue from supplementary services beyond core subscription.
- Third-Party Banking Fees: Transaction fees for EFT deposits (R1.50 per R100), withdrawals (R9.99-R14.99), cash deposits (R2.99 per R100), and SMS notifications (50c). Revenue from payment processing and banking service fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free tier for small stokvels (up to 10 members) with basic features |
| Subscription | Monthly | Mid-tier plan for ambitious stokvels (up to 15 members) with advanced features and discounts |
| Subscription | Monthly | Premium tier for large stokvels (up to 15 members) with top-tier features and expert benefits |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Monthly | Transaction fees for Marketplace sellers |
| Subscription | Monthly | Coaching and training add-ons |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
StokFella product offering
Product offeringCore offering
StokFella operates a digital platform that helps South African stokvels (rotational community savings groups) manage group savings, contributions, payouts, and governance through a mobile app, while also providing a marketplace that connects stokvels to sellers and an AI assistant for community guidance. The offering combines group financial administration, a money-market-backed digital wallet, embedded financial services (lumpsum, savings, investments, insurance), and a dedicated seller portal for marketplace commerce.
Product overview
StokFella is a social FinTech platform that provides a unified digital ecosystem for stokvel (community savings group) management in South Africa. The core offering consists of the StokFella App for stokvel savings management paired with the StokFella Marketplace for bulk purchasing and revenue opportunities. The platform operates on a tiered subscription model: Club (Free, limited to 10 members), Gold (R199/month for advanced governance features), and Platinum (R599/month for premium features including insurance benefits). Add-on modules extend functionality across AI assistance, executive training, fraud/affordability checks, voting tools, and legal coverage. The platform is an authorised Financial Services and Credit Provider, handling everything from member management to dedicated stokvel accounts.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- StokFella App Mobile-first digital platform for South African stokvels that lets members save, manage contributions, receive payouts, and administer group governance. Targeted at individual consumers who run or participate in community savings groups.
- StokFella Marketplace Online marketplace connecting stokvel members (buyers) with vetted sellers (e.g., retailers, service providers) where stokvels can shop or place group orders with cash-on-delivery and 7-day seller payouts. Targeted at both individual consumers (stokvel members) and businesses wanting to sell to this segment.
- StokFella Marketplace Seller Portal Separate subscription-based portal for businesses to onboard, list products, manage inventory, and receive payouts (within 7 business days) from sales to the StokFella community. Targeted at South African SMEs and brands.
- StokFella Executive Workbooks Standalone paid workbook product (Basic R300, Standard R600, Premium R1,200) used to digitize and structure a stokvel's savings cycle and provide governance records. Targeted at stokvel organizers and members.
- StokFella 1-on-1 Coaching Standalone paid personal-coaching service (1-on-1 Onboarding R600, Year-long 1-on-1 R3,600) delivered to stokvel organizers and treasurers to help them run their groups on the platform.
Quantifiable outcome
- R228,470,585 transacted on platform
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use StokFella
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
StokFella technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration4 records
AI capability2 records
Feature8 records
StokFella partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- PayGatecorePayment gateway provider enabling secure credit card and electronic payment processing. PayGate uses SSL3 encryption for transaction security. Critical infrastructure partner for payment processing.
- Visa and MastercardcorePayment card networks supported for credit/debit card transactions. Enables card-based payments within the StokFella ecosystem.
- Tsoga Afrika BrokerscoreInsurance broker partnership providing Accidental Death Benefit (up to R25,000/member) and Accidental Disability Benefit for Gold and Platinum stokvel members. Collaboration for servicing insurance claims.
- WorkerslifecoreInsurance provider partnered with Tsoga Afrika Brokers for group legal cover and accidental death cover products offered to stokvel members.
- WhatsAppcoreWhatsApp integration for user signup, notifications, and customer support. Powers the Nomsa AI assistant and enables communication within stokvel groups.
- Google Play and Apple App StorecoreMobile app distribution through app stores enabling direct download and installation of StokFella applications to user devices.
- Retail Store Partners (Shoprite, PnP, Pep, Spar, Ackermans)minorCash deposit locations at over 5,100 retail stores across South Africa, enabling stokvel members to make cash contributions at convenient neighborhood locations.
- The Compliance ToolboxcoreCompliance officer provider ensuring adherence to FAIS Act requirements. Located at Rock Cottage Office Estate, Randpark Ridge.
Scale indicators10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
StokFella competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- TymeBank: TymeBank is a South African digital-first retail bank serving the mass-market and underbanked segments with everyday banking, savings and digital wallets. It overlaps with StokFella in targeting the same underserved South African consumer base but operates as a fully licensed bank rather than a group-savings management platform.
- Capitec: Capitec is South Africa's largest mass-market retail bank with deep roots in community savings culture and a large base of low-income depositors. It overlaps with StokFella in serving informal/community savings behavior in South Africa but at vastly greater scale and as a full-service bank.
- African Bank: African Bank is a South African retail bank focused on the mass-market and previously underserved segments, offering savings, credit and funeral insurance products. It competes with StokFella for the same South African low-to-middle income customer base but as an established bank rather than a fintech platform.
- Old Mutual South Africa: Old Mutual is a major South African financial services group offering funeral cover, group savings and burial society products, directly overlapping with StokFella's burial society and group savings segments. It serves the same community-savings culture but through traditional insurance and investment products rather than a digital group platform.
Regional players
- Sparkle: Sparkle is a Nigerian digital platform that helps informal groups and cooperatives pool, save and transact together. It is the most direct functional analogue to StokFella's group-savings model but operates in Nigeria rather than South Africa, making it a regional peer rather than a direct competitor.
Emerging players
- Mama Money: Mama Money is a South African fintech offering low-cost cross-border money transfers and digital financial services to migrant and underbanked communities. It is comparable to StokFella in serving financially underserved South African segments with mobile-first fintech infrastructure, though its core product is remittances rather than group savings.
- Lesaka Technologies: Lesaka Technologies (formerly Net1 UEPS and home to Kazang) is a South African fintech providing payments, banking and value-added services to informal merchants and underbanked consumers across Southern Africa. It overlaps with StokFella in serving the South African informal economy with digital financial infrastructure.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
StokFella social profiles
Digital presenceStokFella compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
StokFella financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
StokFella leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
StokFella funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
StokFella 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 StokFella
What does StokFella do?
StokFella operates a digital platform that helps South African stokvels (rotational community savings groups) manage group savings, contributions, payouts, and governance through a mobile app, while also providing a marketplace that connects stokvels to sellers and an AI assistant for community guidance. The offering combines group financial administration, a money-market-backed digital wallet, embedded financial services (lumpsum, savings, investments, insurance), and a dedicated seller portal for marketplace commerce.
Is StokFella a public or private company?
StokFella is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was StokFella founded?
StokFella was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is StokFella based?
StokFella is headquartered in Fourways, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does StokFella make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Subscription Plans are the primary driver. The others are marketplace Transaction Fees, interest on Savings, add-on Services and third-Party Banking Fees.
Who are StokFella's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are TymeBank, Capitec, African Bank and Old Mutual South Africa. Sparkle is listed as a regional player. Emerging players are Mama Money and Lesaka Technologies.
Does StokFella have an API?
Yes. The StokFella platform offers an API for merchant integrations. Merchants whose products and/or services are integrated into the Platform through the use of an API must provide StokFella with their terms and conditions. If StokFella and the Merchant conclude a written agreement pertaining to the use of the Merchant's API, such written agreement applies in addition to the Merchant Terms. Payment processing is handled through PayGate as the payment gateway. Developer documentation is at marketplace.stokfella.mobi.
What industry is StokFella in?
StokFella's product category is Community Savings / Stokvel Management Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAGADAC, Savings Automation & Goal-Based Savings, with a secondary code of FSAGAEAF, Digital Retirement Platforms (IRA/401(k), Pension & Decumulation). Its NAICS code is 52 and its SIC code is 6199.