JABU
JABU sells smart safes, a digital wallet and B2B payment tools that digitize cash for small retailers, bars and FMCG suppliers in Southern Africa.
JABU, founded in 2020 in Windhoek by David Akinin (YC S21), began as a B2B e-commerce marketplace and last-mile distributor for FMCG brands. It has since shifted toward fintech. Its Smart Safe devices and JabuPay wallet turn retailers' physical cash into digital balances for supplier payments and bank withdrawals. The business model combines monthly smart-safe rental, cash-in-transit, insurance and security services, plus free B2B payments to drive adoption. JABU raised about $18M, including a $3.2M seed (2022) and a $15M Series A led by Tiger Global (May 2022). It operates in Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa, and its headcount is estimated at roughly 240 in 2026. Note that it is a fintech and logistics company, not an AI company.
