DisrupTech Ventures Invests in Morocco’s Chari to Accelerate Financial Inclusion
DisrupTech Ventures, a venture capital fund specializing in early-stage fintech, has announced a new investment in Chari, a Morocco-based startup backed by Y Combinator that transforms neighborhood retail shops into access points for digital financial services. The investment marks DisrupTech’s first entry into the Moroccan market and its second investment in Africa outside of Egypt, further demonstrating its commitment to scaling financial innovation across the continent.
Founded in 2020 by Ismael Belkhayat and Sophia Alj, Chari holds a licensed payment institution status from the Central Bank of Morocco, enabling it to provide retailers with embedded financial services, including digital payments, micro-insurance, and instant working capital solutions. Through its digital platform, Chari also allows retailers to order consumer goods from FMCG suppliers with fast delivery, facilitating efficient supply chain operations.
Chari’s broader mission focuses on digitizing the informal economy and reducing reliance on cash-based transactions by empowering small merchants to serve as financial service hubs within their communities. This strategy positions Chari as a potential financial backbone for Morocco’s widespread informal retail sector.
“Our investment in Chari is a milestone for DisrupTech,” said Mohamed Okasha, Managing Partner at DisrupTech Ventures.
> “Chari is redefining how financial services are accessed at the grassroots level. By enabling local shops to function as financial gateways, the company is helping build a more inclusive fintech infrastructure in Morocco. This is exactly the kind of transformative impact we aim to support across Africa.
With more than 20,000 retailers onboarded, Chari is rapidly scaling to become a leading platform for commerce and financial services in Francophone Africa.
“We are delighted to welcome DisrupTech Ventures as a strategic partner,” said Ismael Belkhayat, CEO and Co-Founder of Chari.
> “This investment will accelerate our vision of turning every neighborhood shop into a financial access point, driving economic growth and financial inclusion across the continent.”
The investment is part of Chari’s Series A extension round, and DisrupTech Ventures will join the company’s Board of Directors, working closely with the founding team to support its regional expansion and fintech growth strategy.
