Kenya’s Sukhiba, a conversational commerce platform leveraging WhatsApp, has secured $1.55 million in a seed extension round led by EQ2 Ventures, with participation from Accion Venture Lab, Musha Ventures, Quona Capital, and existing investor CRE Ventures.
Founded in 2021 by Ananth Raj Gudipati and Abhinav Reddy, Sukhiba offers a comprehensive solution for medium and large enterprises, enabling them to enhance sales, marketing, customer service, and payments directly through WhatsApp. By integrating with major tools like SAP and Shopify, Sukhiba streamlines operations, helping businesses efficiently manage customer relationships and process transactions.
Read also: DRC’s Schoolap Crosses Borders, Launches in Kenya.
Since its inception, Sukhiba has expanded significantly, operating in eight markets across Africa and India. The platform supports over 35,000 SMEs, including top-tier manufacturers, distributors, retail chains, and direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands. The recent funding will accelerate Sukhiba’s growth across Africa and other emerging markets where WhatsApp is a key communication tool, especially in Kenya, known for its high WhatsApp usage rates.
Sukhiba’s co-founder, Ananth Raj Gudipati, highlighted the significance of this funding, stating, “This seed extension marks a significant milestone for us, enabling us to scale our operations and enhance our SaaS platform to better serve our growing customer base.” Manish Phulwani from EQ2 Ventures commended Sukhiba’s consistent execution and exceptional product mindset, positioning them as leaders in transforming business and consumer transactions via WhatsApp in emerging markets.
