Caantin, a Zambia-founded but pan-African artificial intelligence (AI) startup, is redefining how lenders recover debts by replacing traditional human agents with automated AI systems that operate through voice, SMS, and WhatsApp.
Founded in January 2025 by serial entrepreneur Njavwa Mutambo, the company has already achieved profitability and is reporting significant efficiency gains for its clients.
“Think of it as replacing human collection agents with AI that works 24/7, improves recovery rates, and reduces costs,” Mutambo narrated.
With clients including NSBI, a leading U.S. collections agency, OxygenX, an Access Bank subsidiary, and Fairmoney, Caantin’s technology has reportedly improved recovery rates by 18–22 percent while cutting collection costs by 60 percent.
What Is Caantin?
Caantin is a Zambian-born technology company that leverages artificial intelligence to automate the loan collection process for financial institutions.
Founded by Njavwa Mutambo, a serial entrepreneur known for his work in African fintech, Caantin aims to eliminate inefficiencies in debt recovery by taking over the entire process, from customer outreach and payment reminders to compliance tracking.
Mutambo explained that traditional debt collection methods rely heavily on manual dialers and human agents, both of which are costly and prone to inconsistency.
“Traditional dialers are manual and expensive. Human agents are inconsistent and don’t scale,” the founder said.
What It Does and How
Caantin’s system employs AI agents that communicate directly with debtors via automated phone calls, SMS, and WhatsApp messages.
These virtual agents mimic human interaction but can work continuously without rest, ensuring that lenders maintain steady and personalized communication with thousands of clients at once.
Beyond simple reminders, the AI also performs real-time compliance checks, ensuring that every message or call adheres to each country’s financial communication laws. The result is a model that reduces operational costs while enhancing recovery efficiency.
Market Capacity and Milestones
Since launching in early 2025, Caantin has already demonstrated tangible results across multiple African markets. Its AI-driven solution has proven especially effective in regions where lenders face high default rates and low recovery efficiency.
With operations currently active in Nigeria and Kenya, the startup reports strong adoption momentum from banks, digital lenders, and microfinance institutions.
Clients like Fairmoney and OxygenX have witnessed recovery rate increases of nearly one-fifth, underscoring the technology’s scalability and market potential.
The company’s profitability at such an early stage is also rare among African fintech startups, highlighting its robust business model and client retention through annual enterprise contracts.
Expansion Plans and Funding
Although largely bootstrapped, Caantin has attracted support from early backers and is now focusing on expanding its reach beyond Africa.
According to Mutambo, the company plans to launch operations in the United Kingdom and South Africa in the first quarter of 2026 while exploring strategic partnerships with larger fintechs.
“We are expanding to the UK and South Africa in Q1 of next year, and also exploring strategic partnerships with larger fintechs,” he confirmed.
This expansion marks a major step for a company that started less than a year ago but is already positioned as a global player in AI-driven financial automation.
The Tech Side — Why It Matters
Caantin’s innovation lies not just in automating communication, but in its data-driven intelligence that continuously learns borrower behavior to enhance repayment outcomes.
By integrating machine learning algorithms with communication platforms like WhatsApp, the company bridges the gap between accessibility and efficiency, a crucial factor in Africa’s $200 billion credit market,
where loan defaults remain a major challenge. Globally, lenders lose billions annually due to inefficient collection methods, Mutambo noted.
Caantin’s 24/7 AI framework doesn’t just lower costs, it offers a scalable, compliant, and ethical solution for an industry long criticized for aggressive collection tactics.
As financial institutions increasingly turn to automation to boost recovery rates and cut overhead, Caantin’s model could serve as a blueprint for emerging markets worldwide.
Its success underscores Africa’s growing role in developing homegrown, AI-powered financial solutions that blend innovation with practicality, a combination that’s reshaping how lenders engage borrowers in the digital era.
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