Kenyan fintech startup Jahazii has raised $400,000 in equity, debt, and grants to redefine how Africa’s workers access and manage their finances. The pre-seed round drew participation from Antler East Africa, DEG Impulse, Jozi Angels, Innovest Afrika, and a network of strategic angel investors.
The funds will power Jahazii’s vision to build Africa’s Workforce Operating System — an integrated platform that unifies HR, payroll, and embedded financial services, designed to unlock financial inclusion for millions of underserved workers across the continent.
“Informality is the biggest structural barrier holding back Africa’s economic transformation,” said Sven Grospitsch, CEO of Jahazii. “Without systems that provide structure and credibility, workers remain excluded from financial opportunities, and organizations can’t scale efficiently. Jahazii exists to change that.”
Tackling Africa’s Informal Employment Challenge
Across Sub-Saharan Africa, 87% of jobs are informal, leaving millions of workers without contracts, protections, or access to affordable credit. This structural gap limits productivity and entrenches financial exclusion.
For employers, the problem runs deeper — inefficient workforce management, manual payroll processing, and compliance risks that slow growth and raise costs. Jahazii’s solution bridges both worlds by digitizing workforce management while embedding finance directly into the payroll process.
Embedding Finance Into the Paycheck
Unlike traditional digital lenders, Jahazii partners directly with employers, integrating financial services within the payroll cycle. Workers can instantly access earned wage advances, savings, insurance, and investments, while employers gain automated HR tools that simplify compliance and payroll efficiency.
This payroll-backed model stands out in a region where digital credit has often been criticized for predatory practices and unsustainable economics.
“By embedding financial services into the paycheck, we’re building the financial infrastructure for Africa’s middle class,” Grospitsch said. “This investment allows us to scale responsibly, deepen employer partnerships, and give workers fair financial access without the traps of high-interest loan apps.”
Building Africa’s Workforce Infrastructure
Jahazii’s Workforce OS centralizes employee data, attendance, shift management, and payroll on a single platform, creating a unified financial and HR backbone for employers. For workers, it provides a safe, structured pathway to financial empowerment.
The platform currently serves operations-heavy employers in manufacturing and agriculture, enabling thousands of employees to access safe, payroll-backed financial products.
By combining workforce management and embedded finance, Jahazii aims to transform Africa’s informal workforce into a financially visible and empowered economy.