Kenyan Logistics Startup Leta Secures $5M to Revolutionize African Supply Chains
2 min read
Leta, a Kenya-based logistics technology company, has secured $5 million in seed funding to expand its AI-powered logistics platform across Africa. The funding round was led by Speedinvest, with participation from Google’s Africa Investment Fund and Equator, a climate-tech-focused fund. This latest investment will enable Leta to help businesses cut costs and streamline deliveries in an industry where inefficiencies drive up prices for essential goods.
Leta’s platform tackles the high cost of logistics in Africa, where businesses pay up to four times the global average for transportation, according to an African Development Bank report. The company’s load and route optimization technology enables businesses to make data-driven decisions, reducing fleet sizes while maintaining delivery efficiency.
Founder and CEO Nick Joshi explains that Leta’s system integrates with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Point-of-Sale (POS), and Order Management Systems (OMS). By pulling live order data—including product details, stock levels, and customer locations—the platform intelligently assigns vehicles, determining whether to load inventory using First-In, First-Out (FIFO) or Last-In, First-Out (LIFO) methods.
Unlike manual logistics management, Leta’s platform automates dispatch planning and real-time route optimization, ensuring that trucks take the most efficient paths. The system continuously updates its AI-powered mapping layer, flagging problematic routes that cause delays—whether due to flooding, police stops, construction, or other factors.
“We’re solving a fundamental problem: businesses lose money due to inefficient logistics. Leta’s AI ensures goods move faster, cheaper, and smarter,” Joshi explained.
Leta’s innovative approach to logistics has attracted major investors. Google’s investment stems from the platform’s real-time mapping capabilities, which provide more accurate road and address data than Google Maps in some parts of Nairobi. Speedinvest highlighted Leta’s ability to merge logistics with fintech, opening up new growth opportunities. Meanwhile, Equator’s investment is driven by the platform’s potential to reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
Deepali Nangia, head of Speedinvest’s Africa and Middle East investments, noted:
“Leta is more than a logistics solution—it’s a gateway to financial inclusion and efficiency for African businesses.”
Scaling Across Africa
Leta has already established operations in Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its previous $3 million pre-seed funding round in 2022 helped deepen its presence in these markets. Now, with an additional $5 million in funding, the company aims to scale its platform even further.
“The first wave of African logistics startups paved the way, but Leta is taking it to the next level by leveraging AI and automation,” Joshi remarked.
With its AI-driven logistics platform, Leta is positioning itself as a game-changer in African supply chains, helping businesses move goods more efficiently, sustainably, and cost-effectively.
About The Author
