Capi

In Africa, goods importers pay as much as 10% to settle their invoices - and wait weeks for the payment to arrive. Capi is setting out to combat this, with its international payments platform built specifically for importers in Africa.

• We go the extra mile for customers Capi serves businesses in emerging markets: their needs, struggles, and insights drive everything we do. We go the extra mile to understand our customers’ problems, spending time in their warehouses, down at the port, at trade fairs, or drinking tea with them. As we scale, it will become harder to stay close to every entrepreneur we serve, but we will invest in the people and systems to do this.
• Always be curious We thrive in complexity across cultures and contexts, from supplier hubs in Yiwu to bustling markets in Lomé. There is no “business as usual” and our assumptions won’t guide us — only our curiosity can. This curiosity isn’t just about others — it’s also about ourselves. We build from first principles, question our biases, and aren’t afraid to ask stupid questions. This is what fuels innovation, builds trust, and ensures we’re solving the right problems in the right ways.
• Move fast and don’t break things We act with urgency, ensuring our customers, partners, and regulators experience high-quality and timely service. When obstacles slow us down, we do what it takes to get back on pace, like getting on a plane or joining a whole-team sprint. We prioritise getting things done over perfection — but in a regulated industry that’s not always possible, so we constrain our speed with prudence and good judgment.
• Build resilience from hard things We recognise that we are addressing inherently hard problems and that set-backs occur regularly. When they do, we remain calm and solutions focused. When we make mistakes, we own them and learn from them openly. Our mission will take time to achieve and so we support one another to stay resilient, both mentally and physically, ready to face the next challenge together.
• Extraordinary talent, no egos Our mission is too important (and difficult) to hire anyone but the best performers. We seek people who are default owners and extraordinarily effective. We also believe that how we achieve our mission matters: we leave ego at the door, put team before self, and believe no task is beneath us.

Total funding: $19.5m