Ebby Gatamu: Transforming Microfinance in Africa Through Digital Innovation and Financial Inclusion

As the Co-founder and CEO of Cladfy Financial Services, she is bridging the gap between microfinance lenders and technology to help small businesses access credit more efficiently.

Her mission is to drive financial inclusion and empower micro and small enterprises (MSEs) through digital solutions that simplify loan management, improve credit assessment, and unlock better financing options.

Her career began in corporate finance, working as an audit advisor at KPMG East Africa after earning a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing from the University of Nairobi.

She later became a project manager at Kenya Airways, gaining experience in business operations and strategy.

She then moved into e-commerce, serving as the Head of Marketing and E-Commerce at Vivo Activewear, where she helped scale the company’s digital presence.

Her entrepreneurial journey began with the co-founding of Adshop Online, a digital marketing agency, and her mentorship work with Wentors, a program supporting women in technology.

In 2022, she launched Cladfy to address the inefficiencies in Africa’s microfinance sector.

Many microfinance institutions still rely on outdated manual processes, making it difficult for small businesses to secure loans.

Cladfy automates loan management, enhances credit scoring with AI-driven analytics, and connects lenders to better financing opportunities.

Under her leadership, the company has gained global recognition and funding, including being a finalist at the Singapore Fintech Festival, securing an International Finance Corporation (IFC) Female Founder Fellowship, receiving a VISA grant, and being selected for the Techstars Africa accelerator.

She has also been featured in the Yale Africa Startup Review and inducted into the Harambeans Entrepreneurial Alliance.

Ebby’s work is centered on economic growth and financial accessibility in Africa. 

She is committed to ensuring that small businesses, particularly women-led and rural enterprises, can access financial services that drive their success.

Through Cladfy, she is advancing digital transformation in microfinance and advocating for a more inclusive financial system.

Her goal is to create lasting change by making finance more accessible, efficient, and impactful for entrepreneurs across the continent.