The Empower Africa Business Platform is Now Live !!!
The startup secured the investment from Verod-Kepple Africa Ventures (“VKAV”).
Chari | YC S21 | Ecom and Fintech apps for retailers in Francophone Africa, a Moroccan startup aiming to revolutionize the African retail industry, has secured $1.5 million in funding to fuel its growth. Founded in 2020, Chari has developed an advanced e-commerce platform that aims to bridge the gap between traditional brick-and-mortar stores and online shopping experiences.
The startup’s cutting-edge technology and user-friendly interface provide customers with a seamless and personalized shopping experience while empowering local retailers to digitize their operations. The $1.5 million investment will be instrumental in supporting Chari’s expansion plans, which include scaling its operations.
In addition to financial backing, Chari will benefit from the extensive industry expertise and network of its investors following the appointment of Ryosuke (Rio) Yamawaki, a Partner at VKAV, as a Strategic Advisor to Chari.

Smartprof, a Moroccan Edtech startup that has developed an online platform for connecting students with tutors, has received a new funding boost to accelerate its growth.

RemotePass, a leading UAE-based platform for managing remote workforces, has secured $5.5 million in Series A funding to expand to Africa.

Launch Africa Ventures has completed 15 new startup investments in 2026, reinforcing its position as one of Africa’s most active early-stage venture capital investors at a time when first-time funding for startups remains under pressure.