DisrupTech Ventures Invests in Morocco’s Chari to Drive Fintech Growth and Financial Inclusion Across Africa
Egyptian venture capital firm DisrupTech Ventures has announced an investment in Chari, a Y Combinator–backed Moroccan startup that is digitizing informal retail and expanding access to financial services across the country. The move marks DisrupTech’s first investment in Morocco and its second in Africa outside Egypt, signaling the fund’s growing regional footprint and commitment to fintech innovation on the continent.
Founded in 2020 by Ismael Belkhayat and Sophia Alj, Chari operates a licensed fintech platform that transforms neighborhood convenience stores into financial access points. Leveraging its payment institution license from the Central Bank of Morocco, the startup enables merchants to offer digital payments, micro-insurance, and working capital to their customers—bridging the gap between informal retail and modern financial systems.
Beyond its fintech services, Chari’s mobile app allows shop owners to order fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) directly from distributors, combining logistics, commerce, and financial technology into one ecosystem. The company has already onboarded more than 20,000 retailers, creating what it describes as the financial backbone of Morocco’s informal economy.
“Our investment in Chari is a milestone for DisrupTech,” said Mohamed Okasha, Managing Partner at DisrupTech Ventures. “Chari is redefining how financial services reach grassroots communities. By empowering small retailers to act as financial gateways, the company is laying the foundation for a new, inclusive fintech infrastructure in Morocco and beyond.”
Chari’s Co-Founder and CEO, Ismael Belkhayat, welcomed the partnership, adding:
> “We are delighted to have DisrupTech Ventures join us on this journey. Their experience in scaling fintech ventures across Africa will be instrumental as we accelerate our mission to turn every corner shop into a financial access point.”
The investment is part of Chari’s Series A extension round, with DisrupTech Ventures also taking a seat on Chari’s board of directors. The partnership aims to support Chari’s regional expansion, particularly in Francophone Africa, where informal retail continues to play a dominant role in the economy.
DisrupTech Ventures, established in 2021 and based in Cairo, has backed more than 25 early-stage startups across payments, embedded finance, and insurtech. Its investors include global institutions such as IFC, Proparco, Avanz, MSMEDA, and Axian.
With its latest investment, DisrupTech continues to position itself as one of Africa’s most active early-stage fintech investors, focused on technologies that drive financial inclusion and digital transformation across emerging markets.