Jahazii, a Kenyan fintech startup enabling employees to access a portion of their earned wages ahead of payday, has secured $400,000 in pre-seed funding. This injection of capital aims to accelerate the development of its “workforce operating system for Africa,” a comprehensive platform intended to formalize and financially empower the continent’s predominantly informal labor market.
The funding round, comprising a blend of equity, debt, and grants, attracted support from notable investors including Antler East Africa, DEG Impulse, Jozi Angels, Innovest Afrika, and several strategic angel backers. Jahazii plans to deploy these resources to expand its integrated software solution that combines HR management, payroll processing, and embedded financial services tailored for labor-intensive sectors such as manufacturing and agriculture.
“The informal economy remains the most significant structural obstacle impeding Africa’s economic progress,” Jahazii CEO Sven Grospitsch shared with TechCabal. “Without robust systems that instill order and trust, workers are excluded from vital financial services, and businesses struggle to scale effectively. Jahazii is committed to transforming this landscape.”
According to the International Labour Organisation, over 80% of employment in Sub-Saharan Africa is informal, meaning millions work without formal contracts, payslips, or access to regulated financial products. This lack of formal employment records makes it challenging for traditional financial institutions to evaluate creditworthiness, thereby denying workers access to savings accounts, insurance, and affordable credit options.
Established in 2023 by Grospitsch, Vaidehi Tembhekar, and Martin Gitehi, Jahazii currently serves Kenya’s manufacturing and agricultural industries-sectors that collectively employ more than 10 million people, mostly informally. The company’s strategy reflects a growing trend among African fintechs to prioritize infrastructure-based solutions, as investors become cautious of unsustainable digital lending practices.
Unlike many digital lenders criticized for exorbitant interest rates and harsh debt recovery methods, Jahazii does not lend directly to individuals. Instead, it collaborates with employers to integrate financial products seamlessly into payroll systems.
Through this platform, employees gain access to earned wage advances, savings mechanisms, and insurance products at more reasonable rates, while employers benefit from automated HR and compliance management.
“By embedding financial services within payroll, we are laying the foundation for financial inclusion among Africa’s emerging middle class,” Sven explained. “This funding enables us to grow responsibly, strengthen partnerships with employers, and provide workers with fair financial options free from the pitfalls of predatory lending apps.”
Jahazii operates in a competitive space alongside startups like Workpay, Seamless HR, Sage, and PaidHR, all striving to digitize HR, payroll, and wage access across Africa. However, Jahazii distinguishes itself by concentrating on industrial and agricultural employers rather than office-based or gig economy workers-a segment that has often been overlooked by many HR and payroll technology providers.
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