Chpter, a Kenyan AI-powered platform that enhances business sales in social media platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram, has successfully raised $1.2 million in a pre-seed funding round.

The round was spearheaded by Ken Njoroge, co-founder and CEO of Cellulant, through his investment firm PANI. The round also saw contributions from other investors which include Plesion Capital, Techstars, Norrsken, Renew Capital, Viktoria Ventures, and notable Angel investors like Benjamin Fernandes, founder and CEO of NALA, and Paul Kimani and Jackson Kibigo, co-founders of WorkPay.

With the funds raised, Chpter aims to use to it address three areas which include; (1) Fast-track the development of their conversational commerce platform. (2) Extend their reach across more Sub-Saharan African countries, and (3) Bolster their sales and marketing initiatives in response to increasing demand for major brands.

Speaking on Chpter’s raise of funds and mission, Tesh Mbaabu, Co-founder and CEO at Chpter said,

“We are thrilled to pioneer the social commerce revolution, starting in Africa, as more and more consumers turn to social channels such as WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok to communicate and purchase from the brands they love. Specifically, WhatsApp’s role in business communication cannot be overstated. With more than two billion active users, it offers an unparalleled platform for businesses to offer support, engage in sales conversations, and maintain customer relationships”.

Also commenting on the funding round, Ken Njoroge, Managing partner at PANI said,

“At Pani, we’re always on the lookout for founder teams with incredible grit they embody the relentless passion and fight needed to build in Africa. When we find such founders, we walk with them & invest in them. For this reason, we’re glad to be part of the Chpter story and to support the growth of a product with the potential to transform how we buy and sell across the continent.”

Launched in Kenya in 2022, Chpter ensures that businesses are capitalizing on the power of social media platforms to drive more sales by meeting customers where they already are, fostering stronger customer connections through personalized marketing, handling customer conversations across multiple platforms by unifying chats in a single dashboard.

Chpter’s approach to leveraging social media platforms for e-commerce is centered around WhatsApp, a widely used platform that has over 2 billion active users worldwide. The messaging platform’s wide adoption, low data consumption, and user-friendly interface make it particularly suited for markets with low digital literacy.

Also, Chpter has secured approval as a Meta Partner, enabling them to offer advanced Meta features globally. This includes setting up product catalogs for seamless checkout on WhatsApp, running market campaigns across Meta platforms, and providing enhanced solutions for businesses on WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram.

Notably, the startup has rolled out Chpter.AI which allows businesses to deploy AI-powered chatbots and customer service agents, ensuring that no sales opportunities are missed due to slow response time. Chpter is already operational in Kenya and South Africa, serving a diverse range of industries including e-commerce, financial services, education, and more.

Notable clients include Britam, Decathlon, Dovey Pharma, and TSHEPO, among others. With plans to expand into five more markets, including Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt, and Morocco, Chpter is poised to become a global leader in conversational commerce.