Sophia Alj is Helping Africa’s Small Retailers Grow Through Tech and Finance

In many African countries, small neighborhood shops—often called corner stores—are the main access point for everyday products like food, soap, and household goods.

These shops are deeply rooted in local communities but often face serious challenges.

They operate with limited digital tools, lack access to financial services, and struggle to manage stock or negotiate better prices from suppliers.

Sophia saw this gap and co-founded Chari in 2020 to provide a practical solution.

Chari allows these retailers to order goods directly from manufacturers and distributors through a mobile app.

More importantly, the platform also offers embedded financial services, including short-term credit and digital payment options.

This helps retailers manage their cash flow better and grow their businesses.

As COO, Sophia leads the company’s operations and logistics—making sure products are delivered on time and retailers are supported at every step.

She also plays a key role in forming strategic partnerships and ensuring Chari’s services reach even the most underserved markets.

Her work goes beyond business as Sophia’s mission is to drive Africa’s economic growth by supporting the informal sector, which employs a large share of the population but is often left out of digital and financial systems.

She believes that giving these businesses the right tools can unlock new opportunities for development, job creation, and economic resilience across the continent.

Under her leadership, Chari has achieved several major milestones, including being selected for Y Combinator’s Summer 2021 accelerator.

The company has also started operating in other markets across Francophone Africa, with a vision to scale across the continent.

Sophia’s work has earned her recognition as one of Africa’s most promising young entrepreneurs.

She represents a new wave of business leaders who are using technology to solve real-life problems, not just in big cities but in everyday communities.

Her leadership is not just about innovation—it’s about impact.

By helping small retailers grow and thrive, Sophia is contributing directly to Africa’s development journey.

She is showing that when local businesses are supported with the right tools, they can drive inclusive growth, reduce poverty, and build stronger economies from the ground up.