Moroccan Fintech Woliz Raises $2.2M Pre-Seed
Woliz has secured $2.2 million in pre-seed funding led by Sanlam Maroc to build a digital ecosystem for local merchants, beginning in Morocco.
Woliz, a Morocco-based fintech and technology platform focused on neighbourhood retail has raised $2.2 million in a pre-seed funding round as it accelerates development of a unified digital ecosystem for merchants. The round was led by Sanlam Maroc, marking the investor’s first startup investment and the adoption of a long-term institutional private equity approach to support platform growth.
The platform is designed to digitise and structure local retail by placing merchants at the centre of an interconnected infrastructure linking commerce, finance, telecoms, institutions and consumers. By creating a digital backbone for neighbourhood shops and small businesses, Woliz aims to boost operational efficiency, streamline processes and support growth in a segment of the economy that remains predominantly manual and fragmented.
Woliz plans to launch its services initially in Morocco, with ambitions to scale across Africa over time. The company said the funding will be used to accelerate technology development and expand capabilities in line with its vision to build a sustainable, long-term ecosystem for the continent’s retail sector.
Neighbourhood retail plays a significant role in local economies across Africa, and Woliz’s model seeks to harness digital tools to formalise and empower these merchants, helping them integrate with broader economic and financial systems. The startup’s approach aligns with wider regional efforts to drive digital transformation, financial inclusion and small business growth across emerging markets.
