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Akiba Digital

Risk decisioning and data intelligence platform for lenders and financial institutions across Africa

Underwriting & Risk Growth Seed
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Overview

Akiba Digital is a data intelligence and risk decisioning platform serving banks, lenders, fintechs, and retailers across Africa. Through its core product, AkibaOne, the company aggregates over 100 alternative datasets into a unified customer profile, enabling financial institutions to assess creditworthiness, detect fraud, and verify identities for customers who lack traditional credit histories. The platform addresses financial exclusion by unlocking access to credit for the approximately 80% of African SMEs and individuals underserved by conventional scoring methods.

AkibaOne delivers its capabilities through three modular REST API endpoints -- Verification, Risk Analysis, and Fraud Intelligence -- that integrate into a financial institution's existing workflows via a single connection point. Products include KYC/KYB identity verification, bank transaction analysis, open banking data, affordability assessments, AML/PEP screening, and sanction list checks. The company also operates Insyts, an SME financing marketplace that connects small businesses to a network of lenders and provides financial health monitoring.

Founded in 2017 by Tebogo Mokwena and Kamogelo Kekana, Akiba Digital has raised USD 6.62M across five funding rounds from 14 investors. The platform serves over 12,000 business users, counts more than 100 trusted partners, and has connected more than 20,000 SMEs to financing through Insyts. Current operations are based in South Africa, with active expansion into Zambia, Rwanda, and Kenya.

Products & Services

AkibaOne Platform

AkibaOne is the core risk decisioning and customer origination platform. It consolidates 100+ alternative data sources -- including mobile money usage, telco behavior, bank transaction history, and digital activity -- into a single customer profile, accessible via one API integration. The platform supports end-to-end origination with embedded verifications, credit bureau checks, and fraud intelligence.

Key Features

  • Configurable risk modules covering character and capacity risk assessment
  • Unified origination widget for streamlined customer onboarding
  • Integrations with TransUnion, Experian, and VerifyID for credit and identity data
  • Open banking transaction history from South African banks
  • Liveness detection and biometric verification with facial and fingerprint checks

Target Users: Banks, fintechs, insurers, and retailers

Verification API

Automated KYC/KYB verification module covering identity number checks, business registration, bank account verification, phone number confirmation, and biometric identity verification with liveness detection.

Key Features

  • Identity number and business registration verification
  • Bank account and phone number validation
  • Biometric facial and fingerprint verification with liveness checks
  • Document tampering detection

Target Users: Financial institutions, lenders, digital banks

Risk Analysis API

Bank transaction aggregation and open banking module providing affordability assessments, financial health forecasting, and alternative credit scoring through bureau integrations.

Key Features

  • Bank statement analysis and transaction aggregation
  • Affordability and financial health forecasting
  • Alternative credit assessments via TransUnion and Experian
  • Real-time open banking transaction data from South African banks

Target Users: Credit lenders, fintechs, development finance institutions

Fraud Intelligence API

AML, fraud, and sanctions screening module covering politically exposed persons (PEP), anti-money laundering (AML) checks, sanction list screening, default listing lookups, and behavioral fraud signals.

Key Features

  • AML and PEP screening
  • Sanctions and default listings lookup
  • Document tampering detection and information mismatch flagging
  • Suspicious behavior detection

Target Users: Banks, insurers, regulated financial institutions

Insyts

An SME financing marketplace that connects small businesses to a network of lenders. Businesses can apply for funding and monitor financial health through a single platform. Designed to serve credit-invisible SMEs lacking formal credit histories.

Key Features

  • Direct connection between SMEs and multiple lenders
  • Financial health monitoring dashboard
  • Access for businesses without formal credit histories

Target Users: Small and medium-sized enterprises across South Africa

At a Glance

Founded
2017
Headquarters
Johannesburg, South Africa
Employees
11-50
Funding
Seed

Category & Focus

Category
Underwriting & Risk
Subcategories
Data Enrichment Identity Verification Fraud Detection Credit Risk Scoring
Insurance Verticals
P&C Commercial Specialty/E&S
Target Customers
Carriers, MGAs/MGUs

Customers

  • Standard Bank
  • Absa
  • Shoprite
  • Old Mutual
  • IDF Capital
  • Sefa (Small Enterprise Finance Agency)

Links

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Last updated: 2026-06-23