Ghanaian fintech startup Liquify has raised $1.5 million in an oversubscribed seed round to scale its AI-driven trade finance platform, aiming to unlock access to working capital for Africa’s underserved Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
The funding round was led by Future Africa, with participation from Launch Africa Ventures, 54 Collective, Digital Africa, and Equitable Ventures. The investment marks a key milestone for Liquify as it expands at the intersection of fintech, trade, and artificial intelligence.
Founded in 2023 by Nadya Yaremenko and Alberta Asafo-Asamoah, Liquify operates a digital invoice financing platform that enables exporters to convert unpaid invoices into liquidity, often within 24 hours.
“We built Liquify to unlock the $120 billion trade finance gap holding back Africa’s most dynamic SMEs. This round validates our vision and brings in not just capital, but talent and strategic support to help us scale smarter and faster,” said Yaremenko, CEO and co-founder.
Fast-Growing Platform Targets Africa’s Trade Finance Gap
Since launching its beta product in late 2024, the Techstars-backed startup has financed over $4 million in invoice value through more than 150 transactions, according to Yaremenko.
Liquify’s platform automates key processes such as credit scoring, KYC/AML checks, and customer onboarding, enabling SMEs to access same-day liquidity while offering global investors exposure to a unique, low-correlation asset class.
“Our AI due diligence engine is reducing approval times from weeks to just 1–2 days,” Yaremenko added.
Expansion Plans Across African Markets
With the new funding, Liquify plans to expand its footprint across Anglophone and Francophone Africa, investing in product development, engineering, and customer support teams. The company also intends to enhance its AI-powered risk models, positioning itself as a key player in Africa’s evolving trade finance ecosystem.
The raise comes amid growing interest in tech-enabled financial infrastructure that can close Africa’s persistent trade finance gap, which disproportionately affects SMEs. Liquify’s model is designed to accelerate working capital access, reduce approval delays, and improve credit visibility for businesses operating across borders.
With a focus on automation, AI, and real-time funding, Liquify is aiming to redefine how African exporters access liquidity and how investors engage with the continent’s trade economy.
