Glovo Invests Heavily in Kenya as Operations Grow Across the Continent

Food delivery giant Glovo is making a significant commitment to its African operations with a KES 10 billion (approximately $77.6 million) investment in Kenya by 2030. The company officially opened its new Nairobi headquarters last week, which will house 600 employees and serve as a regional hub for its expanding activities.

The move underscores Glovo’s growing importance to African economies, with the company already generating KES 20 billion ($155.3 million) in value for local businesses since entering Kenya in 2019. This includes facilitating over 40% order growth in 2025 alone.

Strategic Hub Choice

Nairobi’s selection as a major operational base reflects its advantages as an African business hub, including robust infrastructure, skilled talent pool, and favorable investment climate. Several other multinational tech companies like Microsoft, Bolt, and M-KOPA have similarly established significant operations in Kenya.

This contrasts with Glovo’s recent exit from Ghana, demonstrating a willingness to prioritize markets showing strong growth potential. Nigeria currently represents the company’s fastest-growing market, delivering 38 million items in 2025 and generating substantial partner value.

Filling Africa’s SME Financing Gap

Meanwhile, Egyptian fintech Valu is expanding its services to address a critical need across African markets: SME financing. The company recently received regulatory approval to launch a dedicated business lending arm after becoming publicly listed on the Egyptian Exchange in 2025.

Valu’s expansion comes as Africa faces a “missing middle” funding gap estimated at over $330 billion, where SMEs struggle to access capital between microfinance and large corporate loans. By leveraging fintech infrastructure and merchant data, Valu aims to provide targeted financing solutions for working capital, inventory, and operational needs.