Oxano Capital Proudly Backs Sevi to Revolutionize B2B Stock Financing in Kenya

We are delighted to announce the newest addition to the Oxano Capital portfolio: Sevi, a fast-growing fintech company that is transforming access to working capital for micro and small businesses across Kenya. Sevi has built an innovative digital platform that enables small retailers to access stock financing directly within their existing supply chains, helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses, strengthen their livelihoods, and better serve their communities.

A Vision Born from Entrepreneurship

Sevi was founded by Dutch entrepreneurs Walter aan de Wiel and Bartel Verkruijssen, who combined their expertise in social enterprise, technology, and innovation to address a key challenge facing micro-retailers in emerging markets. After seeing that many small businesses struggled to access affordable financing despite strong customer demand, they developed Sevi's embedded stock-financing model. By integrating credit directly into inventory purchases, Sevi enables small retailers to access practical, affordable financing that helps them grow their businesses.

Addressing One of Africa's Largest Financing Gaps

Micro and small enterprises are the backbone of many African economies, yet access to working capital remains one of the biggest constraints to their growth. In Kenya, a significant proportion of small businesses remain underserved by traditional financial institutions, limiting their ability to maintain inventory, meet customer demand, and expand their operations.

Sevi addresses this challenge through its unique Order Now, Pay Later platform, which connects suppliers with retailers and provides financing exactly where it is needed: at the point of purchase. By integrating finance directly into established distribution networks, Sevi allows retailers to access inventory without requiring traditional collateral while ensuring suppliers receive payment immediately.

The company's model is deeply embedded within existing supply chains. Distribution agents already visiting retailers use Sevi's technology to onboard, support, and assess customers within trusted commercial relationships. This approach strengthens adoption, improves access to finance, and creates a financing model that fits naturally into the daily realities of small business owners.

A Business with Purpose and Scale

What attracted Oxano to Sevi is not only the quality of its technology and leadership team, but also the scale of the problem it is solving.

Sevi serves wholesalers and retailers operating at the final stages of the value chain, including informal shops, kiosks, mobile vendors, and small pharmacies that provide essential goods to millions of consumers every day. These entrepreneurs are often the economic heartbeat of their neighbourhoods, ensuring communities have access to food, medicine, and other household necessities.

By strengthening these businesses, Sevi contributes to more resilient local economies. When shop owners can maintain inventory, they generate more stable incomes, support their families, create employment opportunities, and improve access to basic products within their communities. This ripple effect extends far beyond access to credit and reflects the kind of impact Oxano seeks to support through its investments.

Creating Meaningful Impact Through Financial Inclusion

At Oxano Capital, we seek investments that combine strong commercial fundamentals with measurable social impact. Sevi aligns closely with this philosophy.

The company's strongest contribution is to SDG 9, by improving access to financial services and integrating small businesses into formal value chains and markets. Through its embedded-finance approach, Sevi enables entrepreneurs who have traditionally been excluded from formal financing to participate more actively in economic growth.

Sevi also contributes meaningfully to SDG 5. Women play a central role within Kenya's informal retail economy, yet often face significant barriers when seeking finance. By offering a digital, collateral-free financing solution, Sevi expands access to working capital for women entrepreneurs and supports greater economic participation and financial independence.

In addition, Sevi contributes to SDG 8 by enabling small businesses to grow, create employment opportunities, and generate more sustainable sources of income. Access to affordable working capital allows entrepreneurs to invest in their businesses, increase sales, strengthen household resilience, and build a more secure future for their families.

Looking Ahead

The company has established a strong foundation in Kenya and continues to demonstrate its ability to scale both commercially and operationally. With a highly experienced team, innovative technology platform, and a clear understanding of its market, Sevi is well-positioned to expand its reach and deepen its impact in the years ahead.

As part of the Oxano portfolio, we look forward to supporting Walter, Bartel, and the broader Sevi team through our philosophy of co-entrepreneurship. Together, we will work to strengthen access to finance for underserved entrepreneurs, build more resilient local economies, and create lasting impact across the communities Sevi serves.

Because ultimately, this investment is about more than technology or finance. It is about empowering entrepreneurs, strengthening families, and unlocking opportunity where it is needed most.

Welcome to the Oxano family, Sevi.

Life-changing investments. Empowering entrepreneurs. Strengthening communities. 🚀