For various reasons, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Africa are unable to obtain support from traditional financial institutions. To reverse the trend, Moroccan tech entrepreneurs have implemented a solution.
Talaty is a Moroccan start-up operating in financial technologies. Founded in 2022 by Soulaimane Lahrech, Simo Bernoussi, Ilyas Oudghiri and Zakaria E., it uses technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze SME data. This helps determine whether a company is creditworthy, even if it doesn’t have much financial history.
By integrating advanced artificial intelligence technologies and behavioral finance analytics, Talaty aims to optimize credit assessments, thereby reducing operational costs and default rates by up to 90%. Its technological approach aims to improve access to credit for SMEs, while providing financial institutions with effective tools for risk management and reducing operational inefficiencies.
In December 2024, Talaty secured funding of an undisclosed amount to strengthen its presence in Morocco and explore expansion opportunities into neighboring markets. “Obtaining financing remains a major obstacle for SMEs, responsible for 40% of bankruptcies due to payment defaults. Our AI-powered platform simplifies this process, providing partner institutions with the means for efficient and timely financial support,” said Soulaimane Lahrech.
Despite their crucial importance in the economic fabric, African SMEs encounter great difficulties in accessing the financing necessary for their growth. According to Didier Acouetey of AfricSearch, a South African human resources consulting firm, relayed by Forbes Africa, “Africa has more than 100 million SMEs which need 350 billion USD per year to ensure their development. However, they barely mobilize 20% of this sum”.
Adonis Conrad Quenus
Edited by: Feriol Bewa
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