News
Jahazii raises $400,000 pre-seed from Antler and DEG Impulse in Kenya
Kenyan earned-wage access startup Jahazii has raised $400,000 in pre-seed funding from Antler, DEG Impulse, Jozi Angels, Innovest Afrika and angels.
By Propel Africa · 2025-10-14
Jahazii has raised $400,000 in pre-seed funding, TechCabal reported on 14 October. The investors are Antler East Africa, DEG Impulse, Jozi Angels, Innovest Afrika and strategic angels. The funding is a mix of equity, debt and grants.
What Jahazii does
The Kenyan company lets workers draw part of their earned wages before payday. It also sells a software suite that combines HR management, payroll and embedded financial services for industrial and agricultural employers. Its stated aim is to build a workforce platform for Africa as a whole. Sven Grospitsch, Vaidehi Tembhekar and Martin Gitehi founded the company in 2023, and Grospitsch is chief executive.
The problem it targets
Jahazii operates in Kenya's manufacturing and agricultural sectors. TechCabal notes that more than 10 million people are employed in those sectors, mostly informally. "Informality is the biggest structural barrier holding back Africa's economic transformation," said Sven Grospitsch, chief executive of Jahazii.
Plans
The funding will be used to scale the software suite, deepen employer partnerships and expand its embedded financial services. The company works with employers to build financial products into payroll cycles rather than lending directly to individuals. The long-term goal is to serve Africa more broadly.
At a glance
- Company: Jahazii
- Raised: $400,000
- Round or Type: Pre-seed (equity, debt and grants)
- Investors: Antler East Africa, DEG Impulse, Jozi Angels, Innovest Afrika
- Founded: 2023
- Based in: Kenya
- Markets: Kenya's manufacturing and agricultural sectors