Why we Invested - Chpter

Global e-commerce is becoming more social. We are entering what some call E-Commerce 3.0, where retail becomes hyper-personalized, social, and conversational. Chpter is an e-commerce startup that is building precisely for this new generation of social retail in Africa, with a plethora of solutions ranging from digital storefronts, WhatsApp marketing and integrations, and a variety of other tools, all of which serve the future of online commerce and conversational retail in the Global South.  

At Plesion Capital, we want to back founders who are supporting the flourishing of Africans through innovative ventures. This includes investing in novel African approaches to food systems, digital and physical infrastructures, financial technology, and logistics on the continent. Chpter is working to make the movement of goods more efficient and give African merchants the power to generate more sales for their business.  

E-commerce businesses lose up to 40% of their monthly revenue to abandoned carts, and retentions are largely driven via email in the US & the EU. In Africa, however, over 60% of the population does not have an email address. Commerce in Africa is conversational and occurs mainly on social channels such as SMS, WhatsApp and Instagram, not email.

Chpter has a best-in-class founding team, consisting of Mark Kiarie, Kevin Kuria, Mesongo Sibuti, and Tesh Mbaabu. This leadership team and their experience bring Chpter to life and pave the way to pan-African success.  

Additionally, the team has a clear view of the pain-points retailers in e-commerce and social commerce face daily. To name a few of Chpter’s suite of solutions, they offer:  

• Abandoned Carts and Sales Revival: Chpter replaces email-based retentions with conversational sales through SMS, WhatsApp, and Instagram

• Inventory Management: Automating inventory updates and product details, Chpter streamlines the often manual and repetitive tasks required in social media sales.  

• Secure Payments: Enhancing trust and security, Chpter integrates mobile money, card, and bank payments, providing a secure and seamless transaction experience. Their platform even offers pay-on-delivery options.  

• Conversational Automation & 24/7 Retail: Chpter’s proprietary conversational AI handles customer interactions, reducing sales downtime and ensuring engagement across various platforms.  

By integrating with popular storefronts like Shopify and WooCommerce, Chpter offers a powerful platform for retailers to migrate and optimize their existing inventory tools.

Plesion Capital is proud to support Chpter in its mission to revolutionize social retail in Africa, and we look forward to witnessing the continued impact of their innovative solutions on the e-commerce landscape

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