Rwanda-based fintech startup Kayko has raised $1.2 million in seed funding. The fresh funding will be used to expand its mission of improving access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through data-driven insights.
The round was backed by Burrow Capital, the Luxembourg Development Agency, Hanga Ignite by BRD and develoPPP Ventures.
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Kayko was founded to address a persistent challenge across African markets where millions of small businesses operate daily, generating sales, managing inventory and paying taxes, yet remain invisible to traditional financial institutions due to the lack of structured, reliable data.
The platform serves over 8,500 SMEs across Rwanda. It has different tools for bookkeeping, inventory management and tax compliance. By capturing real-time business activity, Kayko is positioning itself as a system of record for small businesses that have historically operated outside formal financial systems.
“The reality is that you can’t lend to what you can’t understand,” the company notes. Kayko focuses on embedding data capture into everyday business operations, generating signals that financial institutions can trust rather than adding more paperwork for SMEs.
Kayko works like a micro-ERP combined with a data layer, tracking sales, expenses, inventory and compliance activity. This data can then be used to create credit scoring models, working capital solutions and tailored financial products for small businesses.
The company plans to use the funding to:
- Strengthen its core infrastructure.
- Expand data-driven lending and credit scoring capabilities.
- Convert everyday business activity into real access to capital for SMEs.
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