By combining technology with flexible finance, M-KOPA has reached over 5 million underserved customers across Africa.
According to the World Bank, three in four adults living in sub-Saharan Africa are financially excluded, unable to access formal banking or credit due to a lack of employment records, credit history or collateral. This makes it difficult for millions to save, invest or grow their income.
Originally launched to deliver solar home systems to low-income households, M-KOPA is now a leading digital finance platform operating across five African countries. Since our first investment in 2017, the company has provided $1.5 billion in credit to more than 5 million customers, most of whom live on less than $5.50 a day and work in the informal economy. As a result, it indirectly impacts over 23 million lives.
M-KOPA’s flexible pay-as-you-go model lets customers buy essentials like smartphones and e-bikes while building their financial track record. In 2024, the company produced its first 1 million locally assembled smartphones, launched a refurbishment facility, and rolled-out its first branded phone, the X20. It also introduced ‘More than a Phone’ an embedded digital financial service, and sold 1,500 e-bikes through M-KOPA Mobility in Kenya. With 92 per cent of customers saying it makes product ownership more affordable, and 88 per cent finding repayments easier than other loans, M-KOPA shows financial inclusivity can transform lives.
