BTA2023 Auni, an artificial intelligence-powered mini app developed by Nairobi-based startup Fastagger and integrated into Safaricom’s M-Pesa Business Super App, has surpassed 3,500 business sign-ups within just three months of launch.
The milestone highlights growing demand among Kenya’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) for accessible and affordable AI tools that transform mobile money transaction data into actionable business intelligence.
Turning M-Pesa Data Into Insight
Powered by Microsoft Azure cloud infrastructure, Auni converts M-Pesa PDF statements into structured dashboards using optical character recognition (OCR) and lightweight AI models optimized for affordable smartphones and low-connectivity environments.
The tool provides instant visibility into:
- Sales trends
- Customer behavior
- Cash flow patterns
- Repeat purchase rates
- Geographic demand
By embedding directly within the M-Pesa Business Super App — where Safaricom controls roughly 91% of Kenya’s mobile money market — Auni eliminates manual data entry and simplifies analytics for business owners without technical expertise.
“The overall idea was how can we democratize access to AI and the benefits of AI?” said Mutembi Kariuki, Co-founder and CEO of Fastagger. “Reaching over 3,500 businesses in just three months shows that entrepreneurs are ready to move from intuition to insight.”
Real-World Business Impact
For Njoki Njoroge, founder of Mandevu Beard Care in Nairobi, the platform has improved decision-making across retail and e-commerce operations. Access to real-time performance metrics allows her to adjust promotions, optimize delivery schedules and negotiate more effectively with retailers.
“I’m able to make clear decisions because I have the data,” she said. “You’re moving from guessing to knowing.”
Similarly, Peter Chege, owner of Master Stylists Hair Salon and Barbershop, uses Auni’s analytics to track customer frequency and spending behavior, enabling targeted discounts and smarter staffing decisions — moves that have supported revenue growth and business expansion.
“Big corporations pay people to understand how the market is behaving,” Chege said. “With Auni, we get that for far less.”
AI for Africa’s MSME Backbone
Across Africa, MSMEs account for roughly 90% of businesses and about 70% of employment. However, many operate without structured data systems, relying largely on instinct and manual bookkeeping.
By leveraging cloud-based AI integrated into widely used financial platforms like M-Pesa, startups such as Fastagger are lowering the barriers to digital transformation.
Research suggests that even a 5% increase in customer retention can lift profitability by 25% or more — a significant margin boost for small enterprises operating on thin cash flows.
What’s Next for Auni?
Fastagger plans to expand Auni into sectors including:
- Healthcare
- Manufacturing
- Agriculture
The company is also developing generative AI capabilities that will allow entrepreneurs to ask natural-language questions — such as “What were my peak sales hours last month?” — and receive instant performance insights.
If adoption continues at its current pace, Auni could emerge as a model for how locally built, globally powered AI tools can drive inclusive economic growth across Africa’s informal and semi-formal sectors.
