Jahazii, a pioneering fintech enterprise headquartered in Kenya, is transforming the way employees access their earnings by enabling them to withdraw a portion of their wages ahead of payday. The company recently secured $400,000 in pre-seed funding to accelerate the development of a comprehensive “workforce operating system for Africa.” This innovative platform is designed to formalize the continent’s predominantly informal labor market while promoting financial inclusion for millions of workers.
The recent funding round combined equity, debt, and grant financing, attracting investors such as Antler East Africa, DEG Impulse, Jozi Angels, Innovest Afrika, alongside several strategic angel investors. Jahazii plans to deploy these resources to expand its integrated software solution that streamlines human resource management, automates payroll, and incorporates financial services. Their primary target sectors are labor-intensive industries such as agriculture and manufacturing, which employ a large share of Africa’s workforce.
“The informal economy in Africa continues to hinder sustainable economic progress,” explained Jahazii’s CEO, Sven Grospitsch. “In the absence of reliable systems that build transparency and trust, workers are often excluded from vital financial services, and businesses struggle to scale effectively. Our goal is to transform this landscape.”
According to the International Labour Organization, more than 80% of employment in Sub-Saharan Africa exists within the informal sector. This means millions of workers operate without formal contracts, payslips, or access to regulated financial products. The lack of official employment records complicates credit risk assessments by traditional banks, restricting workers’ ability to save, insure themselves, or secure affordable loans.
Established in 2023 by Grospitsch, Vaidehi Tembhekar, and Martin Gitehi, Jahazii currently focuses on Kenya’s manufacturing and agricultural industries, which collectively employ over 10 million people, mostly in informal roles. The company’s strategy reflects a growing trend among African fintechs to develop foundational infrastructure, as investors become cautious of unsustainable digital lending practices.
Unlike many digital lenders notorious for steep interest rates and harsh debt recovery tactics, Jahazii does not extend loans directly to individuals. Instead, it collaborates with employers to integrate financial services within payroll systems, offering a seamless and responsible solution.
Through Jahazii’s platform, employees gain access to earned wage advances, savings options, and insurance products at more reasonable rates, while employers benefit from automated HR and compliance tools that ease administrative workloads.
“Embedding financial services into payroll processes is key to fostering financial inclusion among Africa’s emerging middle class,” Grospitsch highlighted. “This capital injection will enable us to scale sustainably, strengthen partnerships with employers, and provide workers with fair financial alternatives that steer clear of exploitative lending apps.”
Jahazii faces competition from startups like Workpay, Seamless HR, Sage, and PaidHR, all aiming to digitize HR, payroll, and wage access across Africa. However, Jahazii distinguishes itself by focusing on industrial and agricultural employers-a segment often overlooked by most HR and payroll technology providers who typically cater to office-based or gig economy workers.
Save the date! Moonshot by TechCabal returns to Lagos on October 15-16. Join Africa’s leading entrepreneurs, creatives, and tech innovators for two days filled with inspiring presentations, networking, and forward-thinking conversations. Secure your place now at moonshot.techcabal.com
