Rwanda-based HR-tech startup, Fixa, has secured a strategic investment from Fuzé Digital Africa to enhance its digital platform aimed at supporting temporary workers and businesses across the continent. Founded in 2020, Fixa offers innovative software solutions that streamline workforce management while empowering workers to build digital career identities and access critical financial and social services traditionally unavailable to them.
Jansen Durham, co-founder and CEO of Fixa, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership with Fuzé Digital Africa, underscoring the alignment between both organizations’ missions to transform workforce management in Africa’s informal economy. “We are excited to partner with Fuzé Digital Africa. The team leading the Fuzé program has been incredibly supportive throughout the process, and we deeply resonate with their mission on the continent. Their commitment and support to our shared vision is invaluable, and we eagerly anticipate the opportunity to learn and grow together as we work towards impacting millions of workers across the African continent,” said Durham.
Fixa’s platform uniquely integrates digital recruitment, payroll management, and financial services for temporary workers, addressing critical gaps in financial inclusion and employment benefits. The startup’s focus is particularly significant in Africa, where the informal sector accounts for 85% of the workforce and contributes to nearly 40% of the continent’s GDP.
Mael Odina Eugène, an investment analyst at Digital Africa, highlighted Fixa’s potential to drive change in the informal economy. “With informality accounting for 40% of Africa’s GDP, Fixa stands out with a pioneering HR-fintech platform for temporary work. Combining digital recruitment and payroll management, it optimizes the career paths of thousands of workers and facilitates their access to financial and social services. We support Fixa for its ambition to transform the informal economy and strengthen financial inclusion in Africa,” said Eugène.
This investment aligns with Fuzé Digital Africa’s broader mission to back high-impact startups that address critical issues in the African economy, with an emphasis on enhancing the capabilities of businesses and improving the livelihoods of workers. The partnership comes as African economies continue to grapple with the challenges posed by informality, with a significant portion of the workforce lacking access to structured employment, stable income, and social protections.
Fixa’s HR-fintech model is seen as a key driver in addressing these challenges by digitizing workforce management and providing temporary workers with the tools to access financial services, such as savings accounts, insurance, and loans. This digital infrastructure is vital in bridging the gap between the informal and formal economies, fostering financial stability and long-term career growth for millions of African workers.
While the financial details of the investment have not been disclosed, Fuzé Digital Africa typically invests up to $100,000 in its portfolio startups. The partnership between Fixa and Fuzé is expected to accelerate the growth of Fixa’s platform, enabling it to expand its footprint across Africa and reach a broader pool of workers and employers in need of efficient workforce management solutions.
As Africa’s informal economy remains a dominant force in employment, platforms like Fixa represent a crucial step toward formalizing segments of the workforce and ensuring that workers have access to the financial and social safety nets that can help lift them out of poverty. The collaboration between Fixa and Fuzé Digital Africa marks a significant milestone in the push for broader financial inclusion and empowerment of Africa’s most vulnerable workers.