Yoco

Yoco is a Cape Town-based fintech company that provides comprehensive point-of-sale and payment solutions specifically designed for small and medium-sized enterprises. Since its inception, the company has focused on enabling open commerce by helping independent businesses accept card payments and access financial services, often for the first time. The platform integrates hardware, such as portable and countertop card machines, with software that manages sales, staff, and inventory from a single interface. Beyond physical payments, the company offers digital tools for remote selling, customer loyalty programs, and business capital. Yoco serves a wide range of industries including food and beverage, retail, health and beauty, and professional services. By streamlining the checkout process and providing real-time sales data, the platform aims to reduce administrative burdens for business owners while helping them grow through modern financial technology. The company maintains a significant presence across Africa and the Middle East, positioning itself as a central hub for business operations rather than just a payment processor.

Founded in 2014 by Katlego Maphai, Carl Wazen, Bradley Wattrus, and Lungisa Matshoba, Yoco was inspired by the success of international payment platforms. The founders identified a gap in the South African market where small businesses struggled to access traditional banking and payment infrastructure. By providing affordable, mobile-linked card readers, the company rapidly expanded its reach to hundreds of thousands of merchants.

The company has evolved from a hardware-centric startup into a multifaceted digital commerce platform. Headquartered in Cape Town with team members in South Africa and the Netherlands, Yoco now manages significant transaction volumes and provides financial services such as business savings and capital. Its platform supports over 200,000 businesses, processing billions of rand annually while maintaining a focus on the independent business sector.