Chpter, a Kenyan social commerce startup, is redefining how businesses sell across Africa.
Through a strategic partnership with Flutterwave, Chpter has expanded into 11 new African markets: Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Egypt, Burkina Faso, Malawi, and Zambia, alongside its existing operations in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa.
This expansion empowers merchants to tap into the booming social commerce trend, leveraging platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram to drive sales.
Seamless Payments with Flutterwave
The Chpter-Flutterwave deal enables merchants to accept payments via mobile money, cards, and bank transfers in local currencies or USD.
Flutterwave handles transaction processing and settlement, ensuring a smooth experience for businesses.
This integration eliminates the need for customers to leave chat apps, streamlining the purchase process and boosting conversion rates.
“This partnership means businesses can go live on Chpter and start accepting payments directly via WhatsApp and Instagram,” says Mark Kiarie, CEO of Chpter.
READ ALSO:Chpter’s Expansion Plans for Nigeria and Egypt
AI-Powered Social Commerce
Chpter is embracing an AI-first approach, with 45% of customer interactions already handled by AI agents.
“We see a future where over 80% of engagements will be AI-driven as capabilities improve,” says Tesh Mbaabu, Chpter’s co-founder and president.
The company recently launched Pluto, a WhatsApp API suite that helps businesses build full customer journeys, from marketing to checkout, within WhatsApp.
Rapid Growth and Market Traction
Chpter’s growth is impressive. “It took us 14 months to acquire our first 1,000 merchants. This year, we’ve added 1,500 more in under 4 months,” Mbaabu shared.
As a Meta Business Partner, Chpter offers tools like in-chat checkout, product catalogues, and a unified dashboard for managing conversations across platforms. WhatsApp and Instagram now drive up to 60% of inbound traffic for Chpter’s clients.
READ ALSO:How Flutterwave and FIRS Are Streamlining Tax Payments in Nigeria with Real-Time Tracking
Localised SaaS for Africa
Chpter is proving that Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) can scale in Africa with localised pricing and product design. Operating on a subscription model ($50-$550/month), Chpter also earns revenue from paid messaging and AI interactions.
In September 2024, the startup raised $1.2 million in pre-seed funding led by Pani, with backing from Techstars, Norrsken, and Renew Capital.
Why Chpter Matters for African Businesses
With social commerce booming, Chpter’s tools empower merchants to manage orders, automate messages, and run campaigns from a single platform.
The expansion into new markets like Egypt and Senegal, where businesses are already onboarding without direct outreach, signals strong organic demand.
Ready to sell via WhatsApp? Chpter’s innovative platform is making social commerce accessible across Africa, from Kenya to Cairo. Explore how Chpter can transform your business today.
Ronnie Paul is a seasoned writer and analyst with a prolific portfolio of over 1,000 published articles, specialising in fintech, cryptocurrency, and digital finance at Africa Digest News.
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