In Kenya, buying a second-hand car is one of life's most high-stakes decisions, and one of its most frustrating. Pricing is opaque, condition reports are scarce, and too often, deals end with unpleasant surprises.
That's the systemic inefficiency Peach Cars , a Tokyo-founded startup operating in Kenya, is tackling head-on with a data-led marketplace and, as of this week, USD 11 M in new funding.
Led by Suzuki Global Ventures, the Series A also pulled in Japan Bank for International Cooperation and Gohgin Capital, with repeat backing from University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners UTEC, which had seeded Peach with USD 5 M in 2023.
The round is one of the largest ever for an African mobility startup at this stage-a sign that investors see an opportunity to rebuild the region's vehicle trade on a foundation of transparency, automation, and trust.
Launched in 2020 by Kaoru Kaganoi and Zachary Petroni, Peach Cars integrates a proprietary 225-point inspection engine with real-time appraisal and embedded finance tools.
