Cloud9 Secures New Investment, Totaling $1 Million

Cloud9, a Kenyan digital bank specializing in cross-border payments and borderless banking solutions for African consumers and businesses, has received an undisclosed investment from crypto and fintech accelerator Alliance. This new funding brings the startup’s total raised to date to US$1 million.

From MarketForce Pivot to Cloud9 Launch

The founders of Cloud9 are Tesh Mbaabu and Mesongo Sibuti, previously known for their work with MarketForce, a sales force automation company that later evolved into a B2B retail marketplace called RejaReja. While MarketForce achieved success through Y Combinator and raised significant funding rounds (including $2 million seed and $40 million Series A), the company ultimately had to close RejaReja due to scaling challenges during the “funding winter.”

Following this experience, Mbaabu and Sibuti launched Chpter, which provides AI-powered chat automation tools before focusing on their latest venture: Cloud9.

Addressing a Critical Need for African Entrepreneurs

Cloud9 is specifically targeting Kenyan entrepreneurs who import over $20 billion worth of goods annually from countries like China, Dubai, and India. These businesses face significant challenges with traditional banking systems, including:

• Account opening processes taking up to two weeks
• Wire transfers settling in days rather than minutes
• Lack of transparency or recourse through informal payment channels
• Inability to use mobile money across borders

How Cloud9 Works

Built on stablecoin technology, Cloud9 offers a comprehensive solution with:

• A single mobile account for holding multiple currencies (Kenyan shillings, USD, EUR, GBP, CNY)
• Payment capabilities in over 100 countries within minutes
• Dedicated virtual accounts for receiving international payments
• Payroll and bulk payment features for businesses
• Access to savings vaults and global stock markets through Cloud9 Wealth

“Kenya already skipped the bank branch once,” said Mbaabu. “Mobile money became how the country pays for almost everything, but only within its borders. With Cloud9, a merchant in Nairobi should be able to pay a supplier in Guangzhou as easily as they pay a vendor down the street.”

The platform has seen rapid adoption since launching in early 2026, with over 25,000 accounts created and transaction volume growing by more than 15% week-on-week.

Future Plans

With this new investment, Cloud9 will focus on expanding its payment corridors, improving user experience, launching virtual/physical cards, and growing its customer base. As Imran Khan, general partner at Alliance, noted: “Stablecoins are becoming the settlement layer for global trade, and Africa is where that shift matters most.”