Our journey began in January 2025 with just $200 and four clients.
The idea was born during a holiday visit to Kenya, when our founder, Alex, spoke with Aggie about the challenges her husband, Jeremy, had faced while running his chemical supply business. Jeremy supplied chemical reagents to small health clinics, but like many SMEs, he had to wait 45–90 days to receive payment from customers. This created a constant need for working capital to fulfill new orders.
Unable to secure financing from a bank, Jeremy turned to informal lenders. They offered him the capital he needed, but at exorbitant interest rates and only after requiring his business vehicle and other assets as collateral. When customer payments were delayed, he missed a loan repayment. Rather than restructure the loan, the lenders immediately repossessed and sold his vehicle. Without it, Jeremy could no longer make deliveries, and his business suffered significantly.
What if small business owners could access fair, affordable working capital from a lender that understood how their businesses operate?
Sadly, Jeremy's story is not unique. Across Kenya, thousands of small business owners are excluded from formal credit and often have no choice but to borrow from friends, family, or predatory lenders who charge excessive interest, impose rigid repayment schedules, and frequently seize collateral at the first sign of repayment difficulties.
After researching the market, Alex asked Aggie to identify three to five kiosk owners. Together, they lent each business approximately $50 at affordable interest rates with flexible repayment terms. The goal was simple: if the model worked, they would gradually expand.
Within three months, those first loans had grown into a small lending operation serving around 20 regular small businesses. The results confirmed what we believed from the start: when entrepreneurs receive affordable, flexible capital that aligns with their cash flow, they repay, grow, and create lasting economic impact.
Today, Pesa Pot has disbursed nearly 800 loans to more than 380 unique entrepreneurs, with 68% of our customers being women and youth-led businesses. Alongside financing, we provide business education to help entrepreneurs strengthen their financial management and build more resilient businesses.
With approximately 80% of Kenya's workforce employed in the informal sector, millions of entrepreneurs remain underserved by traditional financial institutions. Pesa Pot exists to bridge that gap by becoming the trusted financial partner that grows alongside small businesses, providing both the capital and the knowledge they need to succeed.