Small business funding in Kenya

Funding for
small businesses
ready to grow.

Have a clear plan for your business? Meridian gives you the money to carry it out, plus a business advisor, bookkeeping help and introductions to new buyers.

  • KES 50,000 – 500,000Funding amounts
  • 10 working daysTo hear back
  • 12 monthsOf free support
What we do

We fund Kenyan small businesses that have a clear plan, and help them grow.

Many good businesses can't get a bank loan. They don't have land to use as security, or their records are kept in a notebook. We look at your plan and your business instead.

  • Fair, simple funding

    From KES 50,000 to KES 500,000. Clear terms, no hidden fees, and repayments planned around when your business earns money.

  • Your own business advisor

    An advisor visits you every month for the first year. They help with pricing, stock, staff and planning your next step.

  • Help with books and buyers

    Free bookkeeping support, so you always know your numbers. And introductions to supermarkets, schools, exporters and other buyers.

How it works

Four simple steps

From application to funding usually takes about three weeks.

  1. Step 1

    Apply online

    Fill in a short form about your business and your plan. It takes about 15 minutes.

  2. Step 2

    We review your plan

    Our team reads your application and replies within 10 working days.

  3. Step 3

    We meet you

    We visit your business, meet your team and agree on the amount and the repayment plan together.

  4. Step 4

    Get funding and support

    The money is sent to your business account, and your advisor starts working with you.

Read the full process

Our results so far

Small, and growing steadily

  • 48 small businesses funded
  • 9 counties reached
  • 210 jobs supported
  • 2021 the year we started funding businesses
Businesses we fund

From farms and bakeries to workshops and salons, in towns across Kenya.

Agribusiness

Green Hills Avocados

Peter · Murang'a

Built a packing shed and bought harvest crates. Now sells every week to an exporter.

Food & hospitality

Tamu Bakery

Grace · Eldoret

Bought a large oven. Now bakes 600 loaves a day for 5 schools.

Manufacturing

Pwani Soap Co.

Amina · Mombasa

Bought mixing equipment and got certified. Now sold in 25 shops and a local supermarket.

Beauty & fashion

Zuri Salon & Spa

Mercy · Nyeri

Moved to a bigger space. Grew from 3 chairs to 5, with 2 new staff.

See all businesses

Success stories

In their own words

We used the funding to buy a bigger oven. Our advisor helped us price our bread properly. Now we supply 5 schools.

From 200 to 600 loaves a day

Grace · Tamu Bakery, Eldoret
The bookkeeping help changed everything. For the first time, I know exactly where my money goes each month.

Now sold in 25 shops and a local supermarket

Amina · Pwani Soap Co., Mombasa
Meridian introduced us to an exporter. Before, we sold at the roadside. Now a truck collects from us every Tuesday.

Income up 40% in one year

Peter · Green Hills Avocados, Murang'a

Read more stories

Apply today

Ready to grow your business?

Applying takes about 15 minutes and costs nothing. You will hear back from us within 10 working days.