4G Capital Secures $2M to Scale Lending Across East Africa

Wayne Hennessy-Barrett, 4G Capital Founder & Executive Chairman

Kenyan fintech company 4G Capital has secured a strategic investment of US$2 million to scale its innovative lending model, while expanding financial inclusion and deepening its reach among underserved businesses across East Africa’s informal economy. 

Founded in 2013, 4G Capital blends human customer service with advanced digital technology to deliver small working capital loans and customised business training to micro enterprises that are excluded from the formal financial system. 

Since its inception in 2013, the startup has disbursed over US$800 million in loans to over 755,000 clients across Kenya and Uganda. It has issued 6.8 million loans that have supported entrepreneurs to grow their business and build more resilient livelihoods, and is on track to surpass US$1 billion in total lending since inception later this year. 

The US$2 million funding came from GIF Growth, the Global Innovation Fund’s dedicated growth-stage vehicle, and will enable 4G Capital to expand by strengthening its proprietary “touch-tech” model, an approach that combines digital lending platforms with in-person support from local field officers. This hybrid model ensures that clients access capital while also receiving financial literacy training and business support.

The funding will also support 4G Capital’s continued development in its digital infrastructure and strategic partnerships, improving service delivery and enabling the company to scale efficiently while maintaining its strong community-based engagement.  

“We are delighted to partner with the Global Innovation Fund. This investment provides us with the right kind of capital to scale our model sustainably and expand access to working capital and training for underserved entrepreneurs, particularly women and youth led businesses,” said 4G Capital founder and executive chairman Wayne Hennessy-Barrett.

The company is also considering launching a Series D funding round in the near future to support its next phase of digital scaling.

Source: Disrupt Africa