Sukhiba Connect's Successful Seed Extension: A $1.55 Million Boost to Propel Social Commerce Growth

Sukhiba Connect, a Kenyan social commerce startup, has successfully raised $1.55 million in a seed extension round, marking nearly a year since its initial seed funding of $1.5 million. The latest round was led by EQ2 Ventures and included contributions from Accion Venture Lab, Musha Ventures, Quona Capital, and returning investor CRE Ventures.

The funding will be utilized to accelerate Sukhiba Connect’s expansion efforts throughout Africa and into other emerging markets. Established in 2021 by Ananth Raj Gudipati and Abhinav Reddy, Sukhiba Connect operates as a conversational commerce and customer relationship management (CRM) platform built on WhatsApp, catering specifically to medium and large enterprises looking to improve their sales and customer retention strategies.

The platform has introduced a B2B conversational commerce tool that enables businesses to engage with customers and facilitate sales directly via WhatsApp. This approach is particularly relevant in Kenya, where a 2020 report indicated that 97% of internet users utilize WhatsApp on a monthly basis. A more recent survey has shown that WhatsApp and TikTok are among the most popular social media platforms in the country.

By leveraging WhatsApp as its core operating system, Sukhiba Connect tailors its services, including sales, marketing, customer service, and payments, to fit seamlessly within the popular messaging app’s infrastructure.

Source: Victoria Fakiya / TechPoint Africa