Accion Venture Lab is thrilled to announce our investment in SUKHIBA, an AI-powered conversational commerce platform based in Kenya. In the rapidly evolving landscape of B2B commerce across Africa, brands, manufacturers, and distributors are increasingly turning to digital platforms to drive growth and efficiency. SUKHIBA capitalizes on the widespread popularity of WhatsApp to help these medium and large enterprises enhance their sales and customer retention by tailoring the ordering process, marketing, customer service, payments, and eventually, financing solutions for their customers who are wholesalers and retailers. Here’s why we’re excited to support SUKHIBA on their journey.

Bridging the gap between brands, manufacturers, distributors, and their customers 

SUKHIBA’s platform seeks to bridge the gap between brands, manufacturers, distributors, and their MSME customers, who are wholesalers and retailers. Traditionally, sales associates from brands, manufacturers, and distributors who manage relationships with MSMEs have relied on slow, manual sales processes and inconsistent communication. This often leads to inefficiencies and lost opportunities. For example, a small shop may only contact its distributor when they are already running low on certain items. They then have to sort out pricing and logistics through multiple messages and phone calls. This inefficient approach frequently results in businesses running out of stock and missing out on potential sales.

SUKHIBA’s solution streamlines this process by providing a centralized, AI-powered platform that enables seamless communication, inventory management, and order processing for these brands, manufacturers, and distributors. By leveraging the widespread use of WhatsApp, SUKHIBA makes it easier for MSMEs to connect with their suppliers, access real-time information, and place orders in a timely manner. This not only helps MSMEs maintain optimal stock levels but also allows brands, manufacturers, and distributors to improve their sales and customer retention by providing a more efficient and responsive service.

Streamlining payments and enhancing trade credit 

One of SUKHIBA’s standout features is its ability to simplify payment acceptance for brands, manufacturers, and distributors. By integrating with various payment processors, SUKHIBA allows these medium and large enterprises to receive payments from their customers directly through WhatsApp, increasing digital payment adoption in a market where standalone mobile applications have struggled. Additionally, the platform enables these brands, manufacturers, and distributors to offer opportunities for wholesalers and retailers to earn and apply product-specific loyalty points without leaving the app, fostering greater engagement and loyalty.

Looking ahead, SUKHIBA plans to introduce trade financing, which will be instrumental in helping small wholesalers keep their shelves stocked and increase their average order value by allowing them to make more purchases on credit than they would have if they depended on cash. This feature will not only enhance the financial health of MSMEs but also create increased revenues for brands, manufacturers, and distributors using SUKHIBA.

Meeting customers where they are

SUKHIBA’s innovative approach to conversational commerce meets customers where they are by leveraging familiar platforms like WhatsApp, the dominant messaging platform in Kenya and many other countries across the globe. This technology-driven solution scales informal interactions between sales agents and MSME wholesalers and retailers, integrating seamlessly with existing CRMs and ERPs without requiring changes in the way the sales agents interact. By embedding the entire purchasing, payment, and trade credit experience directly within the WhatsApp interface — where most consumers are already active and comfortable using — SUKHIBA reduces barriers to digital adoption in Africa’s low-tech environments.

A unique opportunity in Africa’s B2B market

Africa’s B2B commerce sector, expected to reach $3.5 trillion by 2025, presents substantial opportunities for brands, manufacturers, and distributors. Despite this, fragmentation and inefficiencies in distribution supply chains have limited potential growth. SUKHIBA addresses these challenges by integrating directly into manufacturers’ and distributors’ ERP systems, streamlining B2B transactions on a continental scale.

By meeting brands, manufacturers, distributors, and their MSME customers where they are and leveraging AI to create recommended carts from conversations with MSME wholesalers and retailers, SUKHIBA enables sales agents to reach more customers, improve service, and strengthen the overall value chain. Furthermore, SUKHIBA’s integration with WhatsApp and use of AI to scale interactions within the supply chain further highlight our thesis on the role of generative AI in inclusive fintech.

SUKHIBA’s founding team, led by Ananth Gudipati and Abhinav Solipuram, brings complementary expertise in product, growth, and engineering. Their experience scaling global products and managing high-growth initiatives across diverse African markets positions them well to execute an ambitious strategy to transform B2B distribution.

We believe SUKHIBA’s strong traction and visionary team will drive them to transform B2B commerce in Africa. At Accion Venture Lab, we are thrilled to support them on their journey to create a more efficient and inclusive B2B ecosystem where small businesses can succeed and drive growth.