Kenyan entrepreneurs Tesh Mbaabu and Mesongo Sibuti, who recently stepped down from social commerce platform Chpter, have unveiled plans for their next venture — a digital bank called Cloud9. In a blog post on Wednesday, Mbaabu described Cloud9 as more than just a fintech startup, calling it “a movement” aimed at reimagining banking as a tool for dignity, belonging, and opportunity. The platform, which is currently open for waitlist signups, promises to deliver faster, mobile-first financial services tailored to the lifestyles of millennials and Gen Z.
The founders say Cloud9 will address the gaps left by traditional lenders, which they argue are often rigid, slow, and expensive for Africa’s younger, digitally savvy population. Designed to meet the needs of those engaged in side hustles, freelancing, and cross-border digital work, the bank will focus on real-time payments, savings, credit, and wealth management. Although details of funding and a launch date have not been disclosed, the duo revealed they are building Cloud9 with a team of former bankers and seasoned entrepreneurs.
Mbaabu noted that the move comes from a desire to apply lessons learned from his entrepreneurial journey to create more inclusive financial opportunities. “Being a founder isn’t just about starting things; it’s about knowing when to transition and where you can add the most value,” he said, adding that Cloud9 will prioritise unlocking credit and financial access for Africa’s next generation of individuals and businesses.
Both founders bring a wealth of experience from previous ventures, including MarketForce, the YC-backed platform that connected retailers to suppliers, and Chpter, where they helped secure $1.2 million in pre-seed funding and struck partnerships such as a deal with Flutterwave. Their decision to pivot towards digital banking signals a bold step into Africa’s rapidly evolving fintech sector, where they hope to position Cloud9 as a new model of modern banking for the continent’s youthful population.