SmartComply
1 known investors
Nigerian company offering an AI-driven cybersecurity, compliance, risk and fraud platform for African businesses.
Also known as Smartcomply · SmartComplyApp
Founders & leadership
Investors · 1
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Smartcomply is a Lagos-headquartered provider of automated, AI-powered cybersecurity and compliance software. The platform gives customers access to major cybersecurity and compliance frameworks including PCI DSS, ISO 27001, GDPR, NDPR/NDPA and SOC 2 Type I & II, with the stated aim of reducing the time and cost businesses spend on compliance. Features cited include automated document management, regulatory monitoring and customisable compliance checklists.
The company has assembled a multi-product stack: Adhere for AML, KYC/CDD, sanctions and PEP screening, transaction monitoring and regulatory reporting (integrated with Nigeria's BVN and NIN identity rails); Seequre (previously Smartcomply Secure) for governance, risk, compliance and cybersecurity automation; Oculus/Intel for threat intelligence, dark-web surveillance, breach detection and brand and domain protection; and Smartcomply Academy for workforce security training. A Compliance Exposure Score tool provides a rapid readiness assessment across four pillars — governance, third-party risk, technical security and workforce preparedness — positioned as an entry point ahead of adopting individual modules.
Product packaging spans a free tier (extended into a "Free Forever" version aimed at small and medium enterprises) and an Enterprise edition built for banks, financial institutions and larger organisations, including those requiring on-premise data handling.
Business model
Software platform sold in tiers, from a free version for smaller businesses to an Enterprise edition for banks and large regulated organisations requiring on-premise data, complemented by an indirect channel of affiliate, reseller and white-label partners.
Tiered software subscriptions, from a free forever tier to paid Enterprise deployments, plus partner-channel revenue via commissions, reseller margins and white-label revenue sharing.
Traction
Over 100 businesses served in Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana as of February 2024, including a bank on an Enterprise edition. By 2026 the company reported supporting more than 100 financial institutions and regulated businesses across Africa, with its Adhere product monitoring more than $1bn in monthly transactions, cutting manual compliance workloads by around 70% and reducing false-positive fraud alerts by 40% for customers. Initial partner programme members include TechHive, Commercio, Tech Falcon Holding, Platview Technologies and enov8 Solutions Limited.
Latest developments
Smartcomply was selected for the ONDI-NITDA startup delegation to GITEX Nigeria 2026, where it planned to showcase its Compliance Exposure Score and full product stack at the Startup Festival at the Landmark Centre in Lagos on 2-3 September 2026. Earlier in 2026 it joined the Mastercard Engage Partner Program as a verified technology provider and became an Associate Participating Organisation of the PCI Security Standards Council. Its Adhere product is positioned against the Central Bank of Nigeria's March 2026 baseline standards for automated AML solutions.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
Positioned as an African cybersecurity and compliance solutions provider whose products are designed for local data and identity rails rather than adapted from global products; described as one of the first African compliance technology firms with a formal seat at the PCI Security Standards Council. Analysts cited by the company project Africa's cybersecurity market will exceed $10bn by 2030.
Combines compliance, risk, cybersecurity and fraud tooling in a single ecosystem with a score-first entry point, and builds for African regulatory and identity infrastructure (BVN/NIN integration, NDPA and CBN AML requirements) rather than retrofitting a global product; partner engagement requires no upfront cost.
Technology
AI and automation applied to compliance workflows: real-time transaction monitoring with behavioural patterns, automated KYC linked to national identity databases (BVN and NIN), sanctions and PEP screening, case management with maker-checker controls, automated STR/CTR/FTR regulatory reporting, dark-web surveillance and breach detection, and a scoring model for compliance exposure across governance, third-party risk, technical security and workforce readiness.
Go-to-market
Direct sales with instant online demo booking and a free self-serve tier, alongside the Smartcomply Partner Programme launched in 2025. The programme has no upfront costs and offers affiliate (referral commissions with Smartcomply handling sales and support), reseller (direct selling and client management with training and sales tools) and white-label (full branding, client ownership and a larger revenue share) tiers. The company also uses industry events such as GITEX Nigeria 2026 and co-produced a "Compliance Reckoning" research report with TechCabal.
Businesses of all sizes needing regulatory compliance, with particular focus on banks, fintechs, remittance firms, mobile-money and other regulated financial institutions, plus small and medium enterprises on the free tier; consultants, technology firms and security providers are targeted as channel partners.
Geography
Headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, with offices reported across Africa, the UK and the US; customers served in Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana, and partner-led distribution targeted at Africa and the Middle East.
History
The platform launched in 2021 under the name SmartComplyApp. In December 2023 the company rebranded to Smartcomply, with a new website and logo, while retaining both smartcomplyapp.com and smartcomply.com for client correspondence. In February 2024 it announced a Free Forever version, passing 100 clients and onboarding a bank onto an Enterprise edition. A partner programme launched in mid-2025, and in 2026 the Smartcomply Secure product was rebranded Seequre and the company joined the Mastercard Engage Partner Program and became an Associate Participating Organisation of the PCI Security Standards Council.
Compiled by commissioned research from 6 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 6
launches, deals, and filingsSmartcomply was selected for the ONDI-NITDA startup delegation to GITEX Nigeria 2026 and planned to demo its Compliance Exposure Score and full product stack at the Startup Festival at the Landmark Centre, Lagos, on 2-3 September 2026.
Smartcomply became a verified technology provider in the Mastercard Engage Partner Program and an Associate Participating Organisation of the PCI Security Standards Council.
The company's GRC and cybersecurity automation product, previously Smartcomply Secure, was rebranded Seequre.
Launch of a partner programme with affiliate, reseller and white-label tiers and no upfront costs, giving partners access to Adhere, Secure, Intel and Academy. Initial partners: TechHive, Commercio, Tech Falcon Holding, Platview Technologies and enov8 Solutions Limited, covering Africa and the Middle East.
Smartcomply launched a Free Forever version of its compliance platform with automated document management, regulatory monitoring and customisable compliance checklists for SMEs, announced passing 100 clients, and said an Enterprise version for banks and large institutions with on-premise data requirements was in development after onboarding a bank.
The company rebranded from SmartComplyApp to Smartcomply, launching a new website and logo and emphasising automation and AI in its cybersecurity and compliance platform. Both smartcomplyapp.com and smartcomply.com remain in use for client correspondence.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 6
primary sources listed
- SmartComplyApp Transitions to Smartcomply Revolutionising Cybersecurity and Compliance management. | TechCabaltechcabal.com · web
6 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does SmartComply do?
- Nigerian company offering an AI-driven cybersecurity, compliance, risk and fraud platform for African businesses.
- Who founded SmartComply?
- SmartComply was founded by Valerie Azubuike, ACIPM, PHRi.
- Who are SmartComply's investors?
- SmartComply's investors include Microtraction.