East African fintech lender 4G Capital has exceeded $1 billion in loans disbursed to entrepreneurs in Kenya and Uganda.
This achievement highlights the increasing importance of alternative finance in supporting small business growth and addressing one of Africa’s most significant economic challenges.
The milestone, reached after over a decade, highlights the growing demand for flexible financing among micro and small enterprises that remain underserved by traditional banks, despite driving much of the region’s employment and economic activity.
Since launching in 2013, 4G Capital has disbursed more than 7.6 million working capital loans to approximately 800,000 entrepreneurs, providing financing and business training aimed at helping small businesses grow revenues, create jobs and build resilience in challenging economic environments.
The company said the achievement reflects its long-term mission to expand financial inclusion among entrepreneurs who have historically struggled to access formal credit.
At the heart of the model is a combination of supply chain financing and customized business skills training, designed to help business owners strengthen cash flow management, improve financial discipline and unlock expansion opportunities.
Africa’s small and medium-sized enterprise sector faces an estimated financing gap exceeding US$330 billion, according to development finance institutions, leaving millions of entrepreneurs unable to secure the capital needed to grow their businesses.
In East Africa, where informal enterprises dominate local economies, access to affordable working capital remains one of the biggest barriers to entrepreneurship.
4G Capital has built its business around addressing that challenge.
The company’s lending operations are powered by a proprietary digital financial infrastructure that combines artificial intelligence-driven credit assessment with a field-based relationship model.
More than 1,600 field agents operate across 226 branches in Kenya and Uganda, creating what the company describes as a “touch-tech” approach that blends digital lending with human engagement.
The AI-powered platform evaluates individual business cycles and cash flow patterns to determine appropriate loan sizes while maintaining portfolio quality and responsible lending standards.
That strategy appears to be delivering results.
4G Capital reports a repayment rate of 95%, a figure that stands out in a sector where balancing financial inclusion with portfolio performance remains a persistent challenge.
The company said customers who establish strong repayment records typically gain increased access to financing over time, with average borrowing capacity nearly doubling within 36 months.
For many entrepreneurs, larger credit limits translate directly into business expansion.
According to the company, clients use the financing to increase inventory, strengthen operations and pursue growth opportunities, resulting in average annual revenue growth of 82%.
Beyond lending, 4G Capital says its impact extends deep into local economies.
The fintech estimates it has contributed to the creation of more than 1.4 million jobs while generating over US$3 billion in economic impact across Kenya and Uganda.
Women and youth entrepreneurs account for the majority of beneficiaries. Women represent 73% of the company’s customer base, while more than half of all clients operate in rural marketplaces where access to formal banking services remains limited.
The figures highlight a broader trend unfolding across Africa’s fintech ecosystem.
As traditional banks continue to struggle to profitably serve small-scale entrepreneurs, technology-enabled lenders are increasingly stepping in to provide credit, payments infrastructure and financial services tailored to informal and underserved markets.
The sector is becoming one of the most important enablers of entrepreneurship across the continent, particularly as governments seek to stimulate private-sector growth and job creation.
“Reaching the US$1 billion lending milestone is a testament to our amazing customers, their determination, resilience, and ambition,” said Wayne Hennessy-Barrett, Founder and Executive Chairman of 4G Capital.
“This milestone belongs as much to them as it does to our fantastic team.”
The announcement comes as the company accelerates its next phase of digital expansion and innovation.
Earlier this year, 4G Capital was named among the Financial Times Africa’s Fastest Growing Companies 2026, ranking third among Kenyan fintech and financial services firms.
The recognition reflects a broader surge in investor and market interest in African fintech, which continues to attract capital despite a more cautious global funding environment.
For East Africa’s entrepreneurs, however, the significance of the US$1 billion milestone goes beyond fintech rankings and corporate growth.
It signals a growing shift in how capital reaches small businesses, through data-driven lending models capable of extending credit to traders, shop owners and rural entrepreneurs often overlooked by conventional financial institutions.
As Africa’s entrepreneurial economy expands, companies such as 4G Capital are increasingly positioning themselves not simply as lenders, but as growth partners helping small businesses build stronger enterprises, create jobs and drive economic development from the ground up.
