Founded in 2013 as BitPesa, Aza Finance has steadily expanded its reach across Africa and beyond, providing foreign exchange, payments, and treasury services to companies operating in emerging markets.
For Elmawkaa, the acquisition marks a significant success for its founders and early investors, who include entities such as Flat6Labs, TIEC, 500 Global, and Taqadam.
As the first blockchain fintech company in South Africa to receive the Crypto Asset Service Provider (CASP) license from South Africa’s Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), Kotani Pay has also positioned itself as a trusted bridge between fiat and digital currencies.
For founders considering a European expansion strategy, southern France — often overlooked in favor of Paris or Berlin — may now be worth a serious look.
The startup says the funding will accelerate product development and customer acquisition as it prepares to meet growing demand for flexible, decentralised energy infrastructure.
