Chpter, a Nairobi-based conversational commerce platform, has secured $1.2 million in pre-seed funding to scale its AI-powered chat automation for e-commerce. Launched in 2022 by co-founders Tesh Mbaabu, Mesongo Sibuti, Kuria Kevin, and Mark Kiarie, the startup enables merchants to run sales, marketing, and payment interactions directly through social channels like WhatsApp and Instagram—turning casual chats into commerce funnels.
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The round was led by Pani, founded by Ken Njoroge (co-founder of Cellulant), with participation from Plesion Capital, Techstars, Norrsken, Renew Capital, ViKtoria Ventures, and angel investors including Benjamin Fernandes (founder of NALA) and WorkPay’s Paul Kimani and Jackson Kibigo. With this investment, Chpter aims to improve its technology stack, enhance campaign analytics, and expand into key African markets like Egypt, Nigeria, Ghana, and Morocco.
Already operating in Kenya and South Africa, Chpter helps brands convert social media engagement into direct sales at a lower cost than traditional advertising. Its platform offers real-time order tracking, secure payments, and automated responses—empowering small and medium-sized businesses to reach customers where they already are.
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By the end of its pre-seed phase, Chpter plans to integrate with popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce, expanding its value as an end-to-end digital sales solution. As Africa’s social commerce sector grows, Chpter is well-positioned to lead the shift toward conversational, app-free buying experiences—supporting local merchants and generating income opportunities for content creators and micro-entrepreneurs across the continent.
