Many small businesses in Rwanda and across Africa still rely on handwritten records to track sales, manage stock, and monitor finances. A Rwandan startup, founded by brothers Crepin and Kevin Kayisire, is seeking to change that through a digital platform that brings these functions together and gives business owners a clearer picture of how their enterprises are performing. The brothers, graduates of the African Leadership University (ALU), founded Kayko in 2021.
The idea for Kayko emerged from a problem the brothers had seen among small businesses in their communities. Many shop owners, salon operators, and other small enterprises relied on pen-and-paper records or software that was not designed for the realities of informal businesses across Africa. The brothers sought to develop a simpler solution. Their platform allows businesses to record sales, manage inventory, track expenses, and maintain financial records.
The project began as a final-year capstone project at ALU. The university's emphasis on practical learning, leadership, and problem-solving helped shape the idea. Crepin Kayisire has been quoted saying the university's first-year Leadership Core programme helped him understand how to identify problems and develop solutions. The programme exposed students to leadership, communication, data-driven decision-making, project management, and the identification of global challenges and opportunities.
The platform's impact is reflected in the experience of some of its users. Gisele Irasubiza, a shop owner in Busanza, Kigali, previously struggled to manage her inventory and understand the financial position of her business. Kayko enabled her to monitor different aspects of the business remotely. She can now access the information whether she is at her shop, at another job, or away from the premises.
The company has since expanded beyond its original bookkeeping services. It now reports serving more than 15,000 businesses across seven African countries. In December 2025, Kayko raised $1.2 million from investors, including Burrow Capital, Luxembourg Development Agency, Hanga Ignite, and develoPPP Ventures. The funding is intended to support the expansion of its platform and the development of lending services.
Kayko recently completed a Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) assessment, validated on November 10, 2026, by Digital Jewels Africa. The assessment addresses the protection of cardholder data. However, it does not by itself authorise the company to provide regulated payment services in Rwanda. The company plans to use financial records generated by businesses on its system to assess their needs and offer working-capital financing.
The proposed service would place Kayko in competition with established merchant payment providers such as Flutterwave, Paystack, and Pesapal. Its approach combines payment services with bookkeeping, inventory management, and access to financing. According to the National Bank of Rwanda, mobile merchant transactions increased by 40 per cent to 588 million in the year ended June 2025. Card transactions declined by 23 per cent to 1.6 million over the same period.
Key points
- Kayko's digital platform helps small businesses manage operations and finances.
- The company has expanded to serve over 15,000 businesses across seven African countries.
- Kayko plans to introduce card payments and lending services to support small business growth.
