Ramani

What they do:

Ramani is pioneering the use of artificial intelligence in the supply-chain financing industry in Africa, starting with Tanzania.

The core of their business model is to operate as a wholesaler, supplying micro-distributors who purchase stock from Ramani making repayments within 30 days. The micro-distributors then use the Ramani app to record their sales and purchases, providing Ramani with valuable insights into that distributor's sales and the ability to repay within the 30-day period.

Why we invested:

In Africa, small enterprises and micro-distributors encounter challenges accessing capital for inventory, relying on cash due to difficulties in obtaining credit from banks. This cash-based approach leads to reduced revenue, inadequate stock levels, and limited investment in critical supply chain functions. Furthermore, these businesses lack Point-of-Sales (POS) systems, resorting to manual record-keeping methods with pen and paper. The absence of digital tracking impedes the analysis of sales trends and the identification of underperforming or stock-deficient brands, affecting overall operational efficiency.

Ramani functions as a wholesaler, providing micro-distributors with inventory on credit, allowing for a 30-day repayment period and a nominal 4% fee, thereby supporting effective cash flow management. In addition, they’ve created a mobile application that empowers micro-distributors to record sales and transactions on their smartphones. This data is then seamlessly uploaded to Ramani's web application portal, facilitating stock reconciliation, analysis, and interpretation. This digital solution enhances operational efficiency, providing micro-distributors with valuable insights into sales trends and more effective inventory management.

The Founder:

Iain Usiri, a Co-Founder and the CEO of Ramani, is a computer science graduate from Stanford University. 

Active in:

Tanzania, Kenya