Nairobi-based B2B fintech Sevi has received an undisclosed investment from Oxano Capital to accelerate product development, strengthen its operating model and prepare for expansion into new markets. The deal adds Sevi to the impact investor’s African portfolio and gives the fintech access to strategic support alongside growth capital.
Sevi provides embedded inventory financing to micro and small retailers through an “Order Now, Pay Later” platform. Retailers purchase stock on credit through established supplier networks, while suppliers receive immediate payment. The model is designed to help small businesses maintain inventory without relying on conventional collateral-based loans.
Key Overview
- Oxano Capital has invested an undisclosed amount in Sevi.
- The funding will support product development, profitability and expansion.
- Sevi embeds stock financing within existing retail supply chains.
- Suppliers are paid immediately while retailers repay in instalments.
- The business serves more than 45,000 users, according to Oxano.
- Sevi’s Kenyan entity has been licensed since September 2022.
Oxano Investment Targets Growth and Profitability
Oxano Capital confirmed the investment through its Sevi portfolio announcement, describing the company as a Nairobi-based, Dutch-headquartered B2B fintech serving micro and small retailers across Kenya. The financial value and structure of the investment were not announced.
The investor said the funding would help Sevi strengthen its operating model, diversify its supplier network and accelerate its path to profitability. It will also support continued product innovation and preparations for expansion beyond Kenya.
Sevi was founded in 2018 by Walter aan de Wiel and Bartel Verkruijssen. According to Oxano’s account of the company’s development, the founders initially explored group lending before evolving the product into an embedded stock-financing platform following changes in retailer and supply-chain needs.
The investment also marks Oxano’s first fintech transaction. In addition to capital, Sevi’s founders said the firm would provide business-development services, governance support and access to its commercial network.
How Sevi’s Stock-Financing Model Works
Sevi integrates credit into routine purchases between retailers, distributors and suppliers. Through its Order Now, Pay Later model, participating retailers can obtain inventory without paying the entire cost upfront or presenting traditional collateral.
Suppliers receive payment immediately, reducing their exposure to delayed settlement, while retailers repay the financing in instalments as they sell the goods. Distribution agents already serving shops can use Sevi’s technology to onboard customers and support transactions within existing commercial relationships.
This differs from a standard business loan, where an enterprise applies separately for cash and then uses the proceeds to purchase stock. Sevi ties the financing directly to an identified inventory order, giving the platform transactional information that can support customer assessment and credit monitoring.
The model serves businesses such as informal shops, kiosks, wholesalers, mobile vendors and small pharmacies. Sevi has also previously said its platform supports suppliers operating in the fast-moving consumer goods and pharmaceutical sectors.
Context is everything. Stay ahead of shifting trends with today’s market updates, and uncover emerging opportunities using the Serrari Group Market Index and Marketplace. Then, take control of your own financial future by exploring our Money & Life Reset Transformation Blueprint ™ to build stronger habits, create better systems, and design a path toward lasting wealth.
Regulatory Position and Platform Traction
Sevi Innovation Limited appears in the official directory of licensed digital credit providers, with its Kenyan licence dated September 19, 2022. The licence places its local lending activity within Kenya’s regulatory framework for digital credit providers.
According to Oxano’s investment thesis, Sevi has more than 45,000 users and reports default rates below 2%. The investor also says women micro-entrepreneurs represent more than 60% of the platform’s users. These figures are company and investor disclosures rather than independently audited statistics.
An industry association report noted that Sevi uses automated credit scoring and know-your-customer systems while working with a network of suppliers. Continued investment in underwriting, governance and information technology will be important as the company adds users and enters new markets.
Working Capital Remains a Major SME Constraint
Sevi’s expansion targets a persistent financing challenge for Kenyan businesses. Research based on the 2023 MSE Tracker Survey found that lack of working capital accounted for 46% of reported business closures, while enterprises said loans were primarily used to finance stock and supplies.
Separate research on Kenyan small firms similarly found that businesses need working capital more frequently than long-term investment capital. Retailers with insufficient cash may be unable to replenish fast-moving products, causing lost sales even where customer demand remains strong.
Embedded stock financing can address this mismatch by providing credit at the moment inventory is ordered. However, sustainable growth will depend on responsible pricing, accurate risk assessment, transparent repayment terms and safeguards against excessive borrowing.
Regional Expansion Creates Opportunity and Risk
Oxano’s backing gives Sevi resources to deepen its Kenyan operations while preparing for entry into additional markets. The platform’s supply-chain structure may be scalable because distributors and suppliers can provide established channels for reaching large numbers of small retailers.
Expansion will nevertheless require Sevi to adapt its underwriting, collections and compliance systems to different regulations and retail environments. Maintaining low defaults while growing its user base will be central to demonstrating that embedded inventory credit can operate profitably at regional scale.
For Oxano, the investment combines commercial growth with its financial-inclusion mandate. For Sevi, it provides capital and operational support to turn a Kenya-focused stock-financing product into a broader East African platform.
Sources: Oxano Capital / Sevi / Central Bank of Kenya / AVCA / FSD Kenya
Your financial future isn’t something you wait for—it’s something you build.
The real question is: when do you begin?
Move beyond simply staying informed.
Navigate the markets with clarity—track trends through the Serrari Group Market Index, uncover opportunities in the Serrari Marketplace, and build practical knowledge with our Curated Wealth Builder Platform.
Stay connected to what truly matters.
Get daily insights on macro trends and financial movements across Kenya, Africa, and global markets—delivered through the Serrari Newsletter.
Growth opens doors.
Advance your career through professional programs including ACCA, HESI A2, ATI TEAS 7 , HESI EXIT , NCLEX – RN and NCLEX – PN, Financial Literacy!🌟—designed to move you forward with confidence.
See where money is flowing—clearly and in real time.
Track Money Market Funds, Treasury Bills, Treasury Bonds, Green Bonds, and Fixed Deposits, alongside global and African indexes, key economic indicators, and the evolving Crypto and stablecoin landscape—all within Serrari’s Market Index.
