Flexpay

FlexPay is a Nairobi-based fintech operating a digital lay-by and goal-based savings platform marketed under the Swahili slogan "Lipia PolePole" (pay slowly). Customers select a product at a partner merchant, activate a savings goal with as little as KES 500, and pay toward the purchase price in instalments of their own choosing over a set period — typically up to 90 days in retail, and up to a year in categories such as travel. On completion they receive a receipt code by SMS that authorises collection of the goods; savings not tied to a merchant purchase can instead be withdrawn to M-Pesa.

The company positions the model as "save now, buy later" (SNBL), an alternative to credit-driven buy now, pay later products: it charges customers no interest or additional fees, requires no documents or credit score to qualify, and states it is not a lender or financial institution. Alongside individual goals, the product range includes FlexPay Chama for group savings, Mama Prime for maternity care savings, and verticals such as agriculture, travel, corporate shopping vouchers and seasonal savings campaigns. Customers can access the service through the mobile app, the website, a USSD code (*384*30#), an online marketplace, or directly at partner merchant outlets and websites, with payments made via M-Pesa paybill, bank transfer or other supported methods.

The company states a vision of becoming a savings-led digital bank in Africa and says it is accumulating transaction data with the intent of building affordable financing products over time.

Business model

FlexPay operates a merchant-embedded "save now, buy later" (lay-by) platform. Customers reserve a product from a partner merchant, set a savings goal and make flexible instalment payments toward the full purchase price before taking delivery, at 0% interest and with no extra charges. FlexPay is not a lender or credit provider and does not extend credit; products are sold by independent merchant partners, who remain responsible for quality and delivery. Beyond merchant-linked goals, the platform supports general savings goals (rent, emergency savings, school fees, occasions) that can be withdrawn to M-Pesa, and group savings through Flexpay Chamas that run in six-month phases (January-June and July-December), with each saver receiving the amount they saved at disbursement.