Oxano Capital backs Kenya's Sevi to scale inventory financing across East Africa
What's the deal? Private equity firm Oxano CapitalDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has invested in SeviDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a Dutch-headquartered B2B fintech operating in Kenya that offers inventory credit to small retailers. The funding will fuel product development, sharper risk assessment, and expansion beyond Kenya into wider East African markets.
What's the endgame? Sevi runs an "Order-Now, Pay-Later" platform that embeds digital credit into B2B supply chains. Fast-moving consumer goods suppliers get paid upfront, while shopkeepers access inventory credit and repay in flexible installments as they sell.
Why now? Micro, small, and medium enterprises form the backbone of Kenya's economy, but many small shop owners struggle with cash flow that keeps shelves understocked. Sevi, co-founded by Walter aan de WielDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and Bartel VerkruijssenDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, has built traction with major regional distributors and thousands of independent merchants.
What's the investor thinking? Oxano Capital said it was drawn to Sevi's "experienced founding team, scalable technology-driven business model, strong traction among both retailers and suppliers, and significant potential to advance financial inclusion and job creation." It framed the deal as consistent with its focus on returns paired with social impact.
The signal: Embedded finance for grassroots commerce is drawing investor interest across Africa, where credit gaps in informal supply chains remain wide. Backing platforms like Sevi bets that unlocking working capital for both suppliers and shopkeepers can scale profitably.
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