That’s not just impressive. It’s historic.
In an ecosystem addicted to valuation headlines and venture capital optics, a Nigerian fintech has just redefined what smart capital looks like on the continent. Payaza, a payout-focused payment processor, quietly pulled off a rare financial feat: it raised ₦14.97 billion (~$10 million USD) via commercial paper (CP) and fully redeemed it without giving up a single share of equity.
$10 million in. $10 million out. Zero equity lost.
This isn’t another fundraising announcement. It’s a masterclass in financial discipline and a glimpse into the future of startup financing in Africa.
Why Commercial Paper Changes the Game
For context, commercial paper is a short-term, unsecured debt instrument often used by multinationals and industrial giants like Dangote, Nestlé, and MTN to manage liquidity, payroll, and vendor payments. It’s rarely associated with startups, let alone in emerging markets where equity has long been the default capital option.
But Payaza went there and delivered.
By issuing a Series 1 Commercial Paper, attracting institutional investors, and repaying the amount in full, Payaza has signalled that fintechs on the continent can manage risk, maturity, and investor confidence on par with large corporations.
They also earned an “A” investment-grade rating from DataPro, bolstering their reputation in the eyes of future funders, both in Africa and globally.
This is more than a transaction. It’s a precedent.
Beyond the VC Obsession: A Capital Shift in Motion
In a Linkedin post , investor and Wharton MBA Opeyemi Awoyemi called this deal “smarter than a funding round.” He goes further, challenging founders who chase VC money for visibility instead of viability, and applauding Payaza for executing quietly while others chase headlines.
Some founders are still raising VC money just to be in the news… Africa is ready for more nuanced financing: Equity + Debt. CPs. Bridge loans. Revenue-based financing.
— Opeyemi Awoyemi, Fast Forward Venture Studio
And he’s right.
The African startup scene is at an inflection point. The next phase of growth won’t be defined by unicorn status or press releases. It will be defined by financial infrastructure, capital diversification, and operational sustainability.
Debt Is Not A Dirty Word: Time to Rethink Startup Capital
For too long, the narrative around startup success in Africa has centred around who raised the biggest round. But here’s the truth: equity is expensive. It dilutes ownership, slows decision-making, and often misaligns incentives.
Debt, on the other hand when structured well, can be the bridge to scale without surrendering control.
Payaza’s use of CP shows that debt is no longer just for conglomerates. It’s for startups with strong fundamentals, clear revenue models, and the courage to manage cash flow like CFOs.
As Seyi Ebenezer, CEO of Payaza, wrote on LinkedIn:
Achieved entirely through operating cash flows no rollovers, no refinancing. This is a clear validation of our business model, our clarity of purpose, and the unwavering discipline of our team.
That level of fiscal control is rare. In a world of perpetual fundraising cycles, this was growth on the back of actual revenue. No artificial lifelines. No dilution. Just operational muscle and strategic clarity.
Equity isn’t the only path to growth. In many cases, it’s not even the optimal one.
Capital Stacks, Not Silver Bullets: What the Future Requires
The smartest African startups will begin thinking in capital stacks, not singular fundraising rounds. That means combining multiple instruments strategically across growth phases:
- Bridge loans for experimentation
- Revenue-based financing for early-stage scaling
- Commercial paper or bonds for liquidity
- Convertible notes or mezzanine debt for expansion
- Selective equity for game-changing partnerships or global expansion
This approach doesn’t just protect the cap table, it builds maturity into the business model.
Implications for Founders: Execution Over Optics
Here’s the real takeaway: if you’re building a startup in Africa, you now have a case study to follow.
Don’t raise for applause. Raise for purpose. If debt can finance your next move without ceding ownership, learn it, understand it, use it.
Ask yourself:
- Are you raising money or building longevity?
- Are you chasing coverage or building capacity?
- Do you know your cashflow well enough to borrow against it?
Payaza didn’t “announce” its maturity. It demonstrated it.
Implications for Funders: Price the Future, Not the Past
Institutional funders, banks, and rating agencies must begin treating tech-enabled businesses not as high-risk anomalies but as infrastructure providers.
If Payaza can get an “A” rating on CP issuance, how many more fintechs are being underestimated simply because they don’t fit traditional profiles?
Africa’s best tech plays may not look like consumer apps or growth hacks. They may look like boring infrastructure, but boring is bankable.
A Quiet Revolution Has Begun
Payaza just launched a new blueprint for the continent’s startup economy: raise intelligently, execute confidently, repay reliably, and retain your destiny.
They didn’t issue press releases. They issued a promise to investors and kept it.
Africa’s smartest founders aren’t just raising money. They’re rewriting the rules.
This article was rewritten with the aid of AI
At Techsoma, we embrace AI and understand our role in providing context, driving narrative and changing culture.
Comments 1