The funding round was backed by Burrow Capital, the Luxembourg Development Agency, Hanga Ignite by BRD, and develoPPP Ventures. Kayko said the capital will be used to strengthen its infrastructure, deepen its data capabilities, and support financial institutions with tools that improve credit assessment for small businesses across Rwanda.
Founded in 2021 by brothers Crepin and Kevin Kayisire, both graduates of the African Leadership University (ALU) in Kigali, Kayko was born out of a personal challenge. The idea was reportedly inspired by their mother's difficulty in securing a bank loan for her catering business due to the absence of formal financial records, a common obstacle for many SMEs in Africa.
Kayko was created to address a structural gap in the financial system, where millions of small businesses operate daily but lack usable financial data needed to grow or access formal credit. While transactions occur, taxes are paid and inventory moves, many banks remain unable to assess these businesses due to limited visibility into their operations.
Today, more than 8,500 SMEs use Kayko's platform for bookkeeping, inventory management, and tax compliance, making it an increasingly important system of record for small businesses across Rwanda. The platform captures real-time sales, expenses, inventory levels and compliance data, creating what the company describes as a trusted 'data layer' that financial institutions can use to better understand SME performance.
"From markets to shops to service businesses, Kayko is quietly becoming the system of record for small businesses across the country," the firm says.
The startup positions itself as a micro-ERP and data infrastructure provider, rather than a lender. By translating everyday business activity into structured, verifiable data, Kayko enables banks and other financial institutions to assess credit risk without relying on traditional collateral.
As Rwanda continues to push for financial inclusion and digital transformation of its SME sector, Kayko's data-led approach places it at the centre of efforts to bridge the long-standing gap between small businesses and formal finance.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
