Chpter Expands to 11 Nations in Flutterwave Push

Kenyan startup Chpter is stepping boldly onto new ground. The social commerce platform has expanded into 11 new African countries, riding on the back of a strategic partnership with Nigerian payments giant Flutterwave.

With this move, Chpter now operates in countries like Egypt, Uganda, Senegal, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Zambia. It already had a solid base in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. The expansion enables merchants across these regions to collect payments directly via WhatsApp and Instagram, using local currencies or USD. Flutterwave handles all transaction processing and settlements behind the scenes.

AI, Subscriptions, and WhatsApp Commerce

This growth is not just about geography—it signals a shift in how African businesses engage with customers. Chpter has doubled down on its AI-first product strategy, reshaping its tech and team to reflect this new direction.

According to Tesh Mbaabu, Chpter’s co-founder and president, the startup now handles around 45% of customer interactions with AI. “We see a future where over 80% of engagements will be handled by AI as our capabilities improve and trust increases,” he said.

Chpter has also launched Pluto, a WhatsApp API suite that helps developers and brands build full customer journeys—from onboarding to sales and support—on WhatsApp.

Their tools allow small businesses to manage orders, automate marketing, send messages, and accept payments all from a single dashboard. With up to 60% of their client traffic coming through chat apps, Chpter’s momentum is notable.

“It took us 14 months to get our first 1,000 merchants. This year, we onboarded 1,500 more in just four months,” Mbaabu shared.

Social Commerce Meets Local Markets

The startup’s partnership with Flutterwave means businesses across Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Malawi, and Ivory Coast can now go live without needing complex tech setups. Even without direct outreach, Chpter is seeing new users come in from across its expanded footprint.

CEO Mark Kiarie noted that many new signups were already trickling in from markets like Senegal and Tanzania, even before the official rollout. “This partnership means these businesses can now go live on Chpter and start accepting payments directly via WhatsApp and Instagram,” he said.

The startup charges monthly fees ranging from $50 to $550, depending on business size. It also earns through paid messages and AI-assisted interactions.

Having raised $1.2 million in pre-seed funding in 2024, Chpter is backed by investors like Pani, Techstars, Norrsken, and Renew Capital. With support from Safaricom and Meta partnerships, the company seems well-positioned to shape the future of chat-first commerce in Africa.