As Africa’s import markets expand beyond $300 billion annually, the pressure to modernise cross-border payments is mounting.
REasy, a Cameroon-based fintech, has raised $1.8 million pre-seed to tackle that challenge streamlining trade between African SMEs and global suppliers from China to Europe.
Founded in 2023 by Brice Mba, Mathieu Wing, Richard Kue, and Stéphane Meng, REasy is more than a payments app; it’s a full-stack solution bridging local African payment rails with global giants.
The fresh capital, announced, comes from a powerhouse lineup of backers: Launch Africa, 54 Collective, Ingressive Capital, Digital Africa, Techmind, and angels including Christophe Chausson of Chausson Partners, Mathias Léopoldie of Julaya, Marième Diop of Dakar Network Angels, and Joël Nana Kontchou of Makoe Ventures.
This isn’t just money; it’s a vote of confidence in REasy’s potential to unlock billions in stalled trade.
A Regulatory Change: From Informal Shadows to Transparent Rails
At the heart of REasy’s appeal is its regulatory innovation. The startup co-designed Central Africa’s first foreign exchange framework with the Bank of Central African States (BEAC), enabling compliant, instant payments for transactions under $10,000.
This breakthrough pulls SMEs out of risky informal channels such as hawala networks or cash couriers and into secure, traceable systems.
Before REasy, banks often rejected small deals below $50,000, leaving importers in the vulnerable position with 7-14 day delays, 5-8% fees, and up to 40% fraud exposure.
Now, REasy’s platform seamlessly funnels funds from local favourites like Orange Money, MTN Mobile Money, and bank transfers into international powerhouses such as Alipay, WeChat Pay, and UnionPay. It even bundles in customs brokerage and freight forwarding for end-to-end imports.
The result? Thousands of importers on the China-Cameroon corridor, worth $3.71 billion in 2023, are restocking faster, with settlements dropping from weeks to minutes.
Scaling Up: AI, Corridors, and Global Ambitions
With the $1.8 million boost, REasy isn’t stopping at Central Africa. The funds will turbocharge operations across key trade routes, amp up AI-powered compliance tools, and roll out more currency and payout options to Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Short-term targets include West African expansion, starting with Nigeria’s $25 billion+ annual imports from China, plus beefing up tech infrastructure and obtaining new licences.
Looking further ahead, REasy eyes integration with the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) by 2027-2028 for intra-African flows and bolder South-South corridors like India-East Africa and Brazil-West Africa by 2030.
The endgame? Serving over one million importing SMEs continent-wide by the decade’s close, encouraging inclusive growth in a region where SMEs drive 80% of jobs but grapple with trade hurdles that erode up to 20% of margins.
Why Investors Are All In: A Game-Changer for Emerging Markets
For venture firms like Launch Africa and Ingressive Capital, REasy ticks every box: proven traction, regulatory edge, and massive scalability in a $100 billion+ African import market.
It’s not just about tech; it’s policy savvy meeting practical innovation, turning SME pain points into profitable pathways.
In a fintech landscape crowded with consumer apps, REasy’s B2B focus on trade finance stands out, promising returns as Africa’s economy surges toward 4% annual growth.
For investors and trade pros: How can we further unlock B2B potential in emerging markets?
International Business Loans Empowering Small Businesses in Africa
Access to international business loans for small businesses in Africa 2021 and international business loans for small businesses in Africa 2022 marked a turning point for the continent’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
With growing investor confidence, global financial institutions and development partners have stepped in to provide more inclusive credit options for SMEs.
Platforms such as WIDU Africa have played a vital role in bridging funding gaps by offering grants and mentorship to local entrepreneurs.
The WIDU Africa WIDU grants initiative, for example, has supported thousands of small ventures across markets like WIDU Africa Kenya, helping them formalise operations and scale sustainably.
Meanwhile, organisations such as Business Partners International and the African Guarantee Fund continue to offer flexible international loans for business that cater to emerging sectors, including agribusiness, digital services, and green innovation.
Together, these institutions are shaping a more resilient SME financing landscape across Africa.
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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