Hakki Group

About Hakki Group

Hakki Africa Inc. is a Japanese-based mobility fintech firm primarily targeting the financial inclusion of taxi drivers in Africa. Founded in 2019 by Reiji Kobayashi and Koji Tokida, the company established its initial operations in Kenya to address a critical market gap: the lack of affordable vehicle financing for drivers. Many drivers in the region cannot secure traditional bank loans due to insufficient credit history and are compelled to rent vehicles at high costs, which diminishes their earnings.

The company's core business revolves around a microfinance model that facilitates vehicle ownership. A key component of this model is a proprietary credit-scoring algorithm that assesses a driver's creditworthiness using alternative data, including M-Pesa mobile money usage and the stability of their ride-hailing earnings. This technology automates risk assessment and loan approvals, allowing Hakki Africa to offer financing for used cars to gig workers who were previously excluded from such financial services. Drivers can own their vehicle after a repayment period, which can be around three and a half years.

Since its inception, Hakki Africa has achieved significant milestones, including reaching profitability and securing substantial funding. A notable Series B round in 2023 raised approximately $10.6 million, and a subsequent round in February 2025 brought in $12.7 million. These funds are earmarked for expanding the lending portfolio, enhancing credit assessment technology, and entering new markets like South Africa and India. The company has attracted a diverse group of investors, including Global Brain, SMBC Venture Capital, and SBI Group. In August 2024, Hakki Africa announced a major partnership with ride-hailing platform Bolt to deploy 1,500 vehicles to drivers over 18 months, further solidifying its market position.

Expanding its service offerings, the firm started a taxi fleet management business in April 2025, which includes leasing CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) cars to Uber drivers. This aligns with its broader goal of reforming financial services in emerging markets by making them more accessible and fair, with a vision to build a cross-border challenger bank for the African continent.