Research Scientist, M-KOPA
Financial Inclusion at Scale
More information about location
Connected asset financing solutions
Job no longer available
Connected asset financing solutions
1001+ employees
Job no longer available
More information about location
1001+ employees
Company mission
To make financing for everyday essentials accessible to everyone.
Role
Who you are
- Hands-on experience or Academic Publication in generative models (VAEs, GANs, diffusion models, or related methods)
- Advanced expertise in mathematics, statistics, and theoretical computer science
- Experience with deep learning, reinforcement learning, or specialised Machine Learning domains
- Experience with structured or unstructured data
- Proven ability to translate research into scalable algorithms
- Ideally a publication record in Machine Learning research (NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, AAAI etc preferred)
What the job involves
- We are looking for a Research Scientist to join our Data Science Team as we scale up and drive digital and financial inclusion across our markets
- The Impact Your algorithms will directly unlock financial opportunities for millions of people across Africa who've been excluded from traditional banking. We've already helped over 5 million customers access $1.5 billion in credit, and your research could accelerate this impact exponentially
- It's your chance to be part of something that's literally transforming lives across an entire continent 🌍 Imagine working on challenges where success means a small business in Lagos secures its first inventory loan, a family in Nairobi accessing educational content through their first smartphone, or entire communities gaining financial resilience through accessible digital services
- Build generative AI models (VAEs, GANs, diffusion models) for financial inclusion across Africa
- Prototype and iterate advanced models, from credit risk assessment to customer behaviour modeling
- Publish research at top conferences (NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR, AAAI etc) while solving real-world problems
- Work with teams across Africa and Europe to deploy Machine Learning solutions that expand financial access
- You will be reporting to the Head of Data Science
Application process
- Applications for this position will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Shortlisting and interviews will take place at any stage during the recruitment process. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a suitable candidate is selected before the advertised closing date
Our take
M-KOPA is an asset financing company in East Africa, that provides solar energy solutions to under-served households. The company offers a pay-as-you-go model, allowing customers to access solar products like panels and batteries without upfront costs.
M-KOPA's impact reaches far beyond its innovative financing model. By allowing households to have access to sustainable energy solutions, the company has helped improve overall living conditions for its customers. The widespread adoption of solar products has significantly reduced dependence on fossil fuels, resulting in lower carbon emissions and a cleaner environment.
M-KOPA's robust funding includes debt financing from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, which aims to develop digital connectivity in Kenya. On top of this, a substantial, sustainability-linked 2025 debt financing round will help grow M-KOPA's smartphone products and ramp up market expansion, whilst promoting an environment and social benefit approach to asset financing. The company, then, is a driving force in ensuring sustainable energy access for millions across Africa and beyond.
Freddie
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
Company
Funding (last 2 of 10 rounds)
Nov 2025
$160m
SERIES F
May 2023
$55m
LATE VC
Total funding: $358.1m
Company benefits
- Private health and life insurance
- Remote and flexi working
- Free meals in office
- Fun and collaborative facilities
- Career development opportunities
Company HQ
Westminster, London, UK
Leadership
Jesse Moore
(Co-Founder & CEO)Previously served as the Director at GSMA and Signal Point Partners.
Chad Larson
(Co-Founder)Current CEO of Kopo Kopo and an Advisor at Blue Haven Initiative and KawiSafi Ventures. Previously worked at the Bank of America for 10 years in multiple roles, including Principal and Head of Structured Municipal Products.
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