HAKKI

HAKKI (HAKKI GROUP INC, operating as HAKKI AFRICA) is a Tokyo-headquartered fintech group building credit scoring infrastructure and asset finance for populations without formal credit histories in emerging markets. The group frames its addressable market as the estimated 1.8 billion people worldwide who lack access to financial services, and states a long-term aim of establishing a cross-border challenger bank in the Global South.

The group runs two connected lines of business. The first is the development of a credit scoring "passport" delivered as a Credit-as-a-Service API for small and medium-sized financial institutions that provide microfinance in developing countries; the proprietary algorithm renders a borrower's credit as a portable score intended to be recognised across borders. The second is used-car financing that draws on this scoring data. Through its Kenyan subsidiary, HAKKI AFRICA LIMITED, the company provides microfinance and leasing to taxi drivers who typically cannot obtain bank loans and instead rent vehicles from individual owners, using mechanised credit screening to underwrite vehicle-purchase loans. Repayment transactions are recorded automatically via Safaricom's M-PESA API, updating borrower credit scores on an ongoing basis.

The group is structured as a Japanese holding company with operating entities in several countries: HAKKI GROUP INC (Tokyo, founded 3 March 2019), Hakki Africa Limited (Nairobi, founded 31 July 2018), HAKKI AFRICA (PTY) LTD (Johannesburg, founded 15 October 2024), HAKKI FLEET MANAGEMENT PRIVATE LIMITED (New Delhi, founded 26 December 2024) and HAKKI FLEET MANAGEMENT (THAILAND) LIMITED (Bangkok, founded 10 October 2025).

Founding story

The group was founded by Reiji Kobayashi (Co-Founder/CEO) and Koji Tokida (Co-Founder/COO), who are listed as directors across the Kenyan, South African, Indian and Japanese entities; Yumeka Abe is also named as a founder/director of the Kenyan company, and Tomoyuki Sugiyama as a director of the holding and Thai entities.

Business model

The Kenyan operating subsidiary lends to and leases vehicles for taxi drivers, financing used-car purchases for small and medium enterprises and individuals excluded from bank credit; the holding company develops credit scoring for B2B finance services, offered as a Credit-as-a-Service API to small and mid-sized microfinance institutions in developing markets.

Revenue derives from used-car financing and leasing to taxi drivers, with the company stating it delivers faster and cheaper financial services at lower man-hour cost than traditional lenders; credit scoring is also packaged as an API service for other financial institutions.

Traction

The Kenyan used-car finance business has operated since 2020. As of April 2025 the company reported three consecutive periods of operating profit and a 13-fold year-on-year increase in ordinary profit in its most recent consolidated results, with cumulative funding of 4.9 billion yen. The Kenyan entity reports 65 regular and 5 part-time employees.

Latest developments

In April 2025 the company completed the second close of its Series C, taking the round total to 2.71 billion yen and cumulative funding to 4.9 billion yen, with proceeds earmarked for overseas expansion into South Africa and India from 2025. A Thai fleet management entity was incorporated in October 2025, and the company published an Impact Report 2025.