M-KOPA, a prominent pan-African fintech company, has achieved a significant milestone, now serving over 7 million customers across five markets and facilitating more than $2 billion in credit since its inception in 2010. What began 15 years ago as a venture selling pay-as-you-go solar kits in Kenya has evolved into a robust fintech engine, providing essential services such as affordable smartphones, loans, insurance, and even electric motorbikes to a demographic it calls “Every Day Earners.” This group primarily comprises small traders, drivers, teachers, and artisans who are the backbone of Africa’s informal economy.

For many across sub-Saharan Africa, the journey with M-KOPA commences with something often taken for granted in more developed regions: a smartphone. A staggering 77% of adults in sub-Saharan Africa do not own a smartphone, with affordability being the primary barrier. An entry-level device can cost up to 99% of a low-income earner’s monthly income, according to GSMA. M-KOPA’s innovative financing model directly addresses this by allowing customers to acquire devices with a small deposit and flexible daily repayments. In 2025 alone, the company sold 1.3 million smartphones, bringing the cumulative total to 6.4 million since 2020. Notably, 42% of these buyers were first-time smartphone owners, enabling 2.5 million people to access the internet and the digital economy for the very first time.

The true innovation of M-KOPA extends beyond mere device distribution; it lies in embedding these devices with vital financial services. This model transforms a gadget into a platform for building credit histories and accessing services traditionally inaccessible to those in the informal economy. The impact is profound: 38% of customers reported that their M-KOPA loan was their first-ever formal loan (with this figure rising to 43% for women), and 67% stated their M-KOPA health insurance was their inaugural insurance policy. Overall, 55% of customers are accessing a product for the first time via M-KOPA. These statistics are particularly striking in a region where 88% of adults have never borrowed from a formal institution and 88% remain uninsured.

M-KOPA’s services have been transformative for individuals like Lydia, a food kiosk owner in Kenya, who tripled her daily income and expanded her business after gaining access to a smartphone, data bundles, digital loans, and health insurance. Similarly, Suliyat, a rice seller in Nigeria, managed to acquire a smartphone with a modest $26 deposit after struggling to save for the upfront cost. She later accessed digital loans, using her phone to market food on TikTok and coordinate sales staff, noting, “My customers take me more seriously now.” The company’s focus on empowerment is evident, particularly for women, who constitute 40% of active customers and 45% of sales agents. The report highlights that 81% of women, compared to 78% of men, could not afford a smartphone without M-KOPA’s financing.

The measurable impact is further corroborated by a 2025 survey of over 4,000 customers across five markets: 86% reported an improved quality of life (up from 79% in 2024), 70% use their M-KOPA product for income generation (up from 62% in 2024), 59% are earning more, and 65% are better able to meet household goals. Many customers experienced a profound shift from financial struggle to stability, with over four in five now reporting they are better able to care for themselves and their families.

Behind these successes are the people powering the network. M-KOPA partners with 35,000 sales agents, many of whom are under 35 and entering employment for the first time; 92% of these agents reported an increase in income. The company also directly employs 2,300 staff, with nearly half being women, and delivered 53,000 hours of training in 2025. Its smartphone assembly plant in Nairobi, which has produced 2 million devices since 2023, further contributes to job creation and cost reduction.

At its core, M-KOPA’s mission transcends merely selling devices or vehicles. It aims to redefine access for the 62% of sub-Saharan Africans under 35 who predominantly work informally, earn less than $5.50 a day, and lack payslips, collateral, or a formal credit history. By designing financial products that align with how people earn—offering flexible, daily payments without penalties—M-KOPA transforms exclusion into opportunity. Whether it’s enabling timely payment of school fees, scaling a small business, or simply providing the dignity of being connected, M-KOPA empowers millions. As one customer articulated, “The unifying voice you hear is that paying for a phone daily improves life, brings progress, and opens a world you probably would not have experienced.”