Liquify secures US$1.5m seed round to tackle Africa’s trade finance gap

Liquify, a female-founded trade finance platform, has successfully raised US$1.5m in a seed funding round led by Future Africa. The round saw participation from other notable investors including Launch Africa Ventures, 54 Collective, Digital Africa, and Equitable Ventures.

The infusion of capital marks a pivotal milestone for the company, setting the stage for a major expansion across Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and Côte d’Ivoire. Simultaneously, it will allow the company to strengthen its Ghana-based operations team and further enhance the capabilities of its AI-powered platform.

Founded by Nadya Yaremenko (CEO) and Alberta Asafo-Asamoah (COO), both alumni of Techstars 2023, Liquify emerged with a bold mission: to bridge the massive US$120bn trade finance gap hindering Africa’s vibrant small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Yaremenko brought to the venture deep experience in trade finance, having managed Citi’s US$3bn structured trade portfolio across Asia. Asafo-Asamoah, on the other hand, brought a strong impact investment background, having helped deploy US$30m in SME-focused capital at organisations like TBN and GIZ.

The vision behind Liquify resonated with its investors. Launch Africa Ventures, which was introduced to Liquify via one of its portfolio companies, quickly built conviction in the startup’s approach. The firm then rallied other key investors from its network to participate, reinforcing a shared confidence in Liquify’s business model and leadership.

Liquify runs a digital invoice finance marketplace, enabling African SMEs to unlock working capital by converting unpaid invoices into same-day cash. This innovation also creates a new frontier for global investors, offering access to a previously untapped asset class. The platform appeals to institutional investors seeking attractive short-term, asset-backed returns; trade finance funds exploring the African market; development finance institutions committed to inclusion; and corporate buyers looking to stabilize their African supply chains.

The interest from financiers has been strong. Liquify has already secured commitments from Channel Capital and Emerald Finance. With a current pipeline of US$16m in financeable contracts, the company sees clear evidence of significant demand in the market.

Since its beta launch in late 2024, Liquify has facilitated over 150 transactions totaling US$4m in financed trade—without a single default. Its AI-driven due diligence model has proven to reduce operational costs by up to nine times compared to traditional banks, while offering competitive financing terms to African exporters working with investment-grade buyers such as Nestlé and Mars.

The platform blends AI-powered credit scoring with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) frameworks, empowering exporters not only to access capital, but also to demonstrate sustainable business practices. By focusing on SMEs with solid relationships with OECD buyers, Liquify mitigates risk and champions businesses that fuel employment and economic resilience across the continent.