Kenyan digital banking startup Cloud9 has acquired social commerce platform Chpter in an all stock transaction, marking its second acquisition in three months after purchasing ticketing platform M Tickets in May. Although the financial terms of the latest deal were not disclosed, the acquisition reunites Cloud9 founder Tesh Mbaabu with Chpter, the company he left in September 2025 before launching Cloud9. The move strengthens Cloud9’s strategy of embedding financial services into platforms where businesses already conduct transactions.
Following the acquisition, Cloud9 has discontinued the standalone Chpter application and will integrate its artificial intelligence powered sales tools for WhatsApp and Instagram into its business banking platform. About 4,500 businesses currently using Chpter will migrate to Cloud9, while members of Chpter’s product, engineering, customer success and commercial teams have joined the company. Mbaabu said acquiring Chpter was faster and more strategic than developing similar capabilities internally.
Cloud9 said the acquisition complements its earlier purchase of M Tickets by adding another commerce channel that connects merchants selling through social media platforms. The company plans to use the combined ecosystem to provide payments, banking and other financial services while lowering customer acquisition costs and improving its ability to assess businesses for lending and other financial products.
Mbaabu said Cloud9 remains focused on disciplined growth rather than short term profitability, adding that the company will raise additional capital only when it aligns with its long term expansion strategy. He described Chpter as a key distribution and engagement platform that will help Cloud9 deepen its presence in digital commerce and business banking across Africa.