Kenyan e-commerce startup Tappi has teamed up with the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) to launch digital services for 30,000 MSMEs across the country.
Co-founded by Kenfield Griffith and Louis Majanja, Tappi is a comprehensive digital commerce SaaS platform designed specifically for MSMEs. It enables business owners to download its app, customize their interface, and promote their business through a simple three-step process that connects to Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and Instagram Ads using either airtime credit or mobile money.
Since its founding in 2022, Tappi has quickly expanded, accumulating verified reviews on over US$3 million in consumer transactions and interacting with more than 150,000 consumers. In December, Disrupt Africa reported that the startup had secured US$1.5 million in an oversubscribed pre-seed funding round. Tappi has also expanded its reach to Ivory Coast, marking its third market entry following Nigeria.
The startup recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the KNCCI to initiate the Sukuma Biz initiative. This partnership will enable Tappi to offer a tailored package of digital services aimed at enhancing online credibility and identity for the KNCCI’s 30,000 business members.
For a monthly fee of KES 500 (approximately US$4), KNCCI members will get their own business landing page on Tappi’s platform, which will include the KNCCI logo and integration of up to 50 customer reviews through SMS, WhatsApp, or other channels. Members can also send up to 250 text marketing messages directly to their customers.
Using Tappi’s SaaS and enterprise-grade solutions, KNCCI members can create SEO-optimized websites in less than two minutes by answering eight simple questions through an intuitive chat tool. Leveraging AI, machine learning, and sophisticated algorithms, each website’s content and design will be automatically customized to the business’s target audience and sector. Additionally, members will have the tools to manage ads on Google, Facebook, and Instagram directly from Tappi’s platform and access a suite of other digital services.
“KNCCI is one of Kenya’s most trusted industry bodies, and with its extensive network of local businesses, it is an ideal partner to help accelerate our mission of empowering MSMEs to establish strong online reputations,” said Griffith.
“It was crucial to collaborate with a partner who not only understands the significant challenges faced by Kenyan businesses but also the demographics most impacted by these challenges. We are incredibly proud to partner with KNCCI, especially in supporting women-led businesses, and equipping them with digital tools to drive Kenya’s economy forward,” Griffith added.
