DisrupTech Ventures, a leading early-stage fintech venture capital fund, has announced its investment in Chari, a Y Combinator–backed startup that is transforming Morocco’s fragmented retail sector into a nationwide fintech and commerce network.
The investment marks DisrupTech’s first entry into the Moroccan market and its second investment in Africa outside of Egypt, reinforcing the fund’s growing commitment to advancing high-impact fintech innovation across the continent.
Founded in 2020 by entrepreneurs Ismael Belkhayat and Sophia Alj, Chari has rapidly evolved from a simple B2B e-commerce platform into a licensed fintech institution with a bold, continent-wide ambition. Leveraging its payment institution licence from the Central Bank of Morocco, Chari has built a platform that empowers tens of thousands of neighbourhood retailers—often referred to as “hanouts”—to serve as access points for essential financial services. These small shops, historically limited to cash-based retail, are now transforming into digital hubs where consumers can make payments, access financial products, and interact with modern financial infrastructure that was previously unavailable in their communities.
While Chari’s mobile app initially gained traction by enabling retailers to order fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) from distributors with rapid, reliable delivery, the company’s long-term vision is far more consequential. Chari is building a digital ecosystem that modernises financial flows within the informal economy, which still accounts for a large percentage of Morocco’s commercial activity. By digitising transactions, reducing dependency on cash, and embedding financial products—such as credit, insurance, and digital payments—directly into retail operations, the company is laying the groundwork for what could become the financial backbone of Morocco’s informal retail market.
Chari also provides instant working capital to retailers through underwriting models that use real-time transaction data. This allows shop owners to access the credit they need to restock inventory and grow their businesses—without relying on traditional collateral-based lending. By integrating these tools seamlessly into daily workflows, Chari is fostering financial inclusion at the grassroots level.
“Our investment in Chari is a milestone for DisrupTech,” said Mohamed Okasha, Managing Partner at DisrupTech Ventures. “Chari is redefining how financial services are delivered at the grassroots level. By empowering small shops to act as financial gateways, Chari is creating the foundation for a new, inclusive fintech infrastructure in Morocco. This is exactly the kind of transformative model we seek to support across Africa.”
Chari’s impact is already visible. The startup has onboarded more than 20,000 retailers to its platform, positioning itself as a central player in Francophone Africa’s emerging digital commerce and payments landscape. The company’s blend of technology, financial inclusion, and distribution efficiency has enabled it to scale rapidly while addressing deep-rooted structural challenges in the informal economy.
“We are delighted to welcome DisrupTech Ventures as a partner on our journey,” said Ismael Belkhayat, CEO and Co-Founder of Chari. “With DisrupTech’s backing, we are accelerating our mission to turn every corner shop into a financial access point. Together, we will continue to build technologies that drive financial inclusion and economic growth across Africa.”
The investment forms part of Chari’s Series A extension round. As part of the agreement, DisrupTech Ventures will join Chari’s board of directors, collaborating closely with the founding team to advance the company’s regional expansion plans and its vision to become a leading fintech enabler across North and West Africa.
DisrupTech Ventures’ investment signals rising confidence in Morocco’s burgeoning fintech landscape, which is gaining momentum as regulators introduce supportive frameworks and startups leverage technology to reach underserved communities. The partnership between DisrupTech and Chari showcases the powerful role that venture capital can play in enabling innovation that addresses financial inclusion gaps, accelerates digital transformation, and creates sustainable economic value.
