Trade credit network tabb has partnered with industrial supplier Doshi to expand its reach in the steel, electrical, and hardware sectors.
The partnership will see Doshi integrate into tabb’s expanding ecosystem, granting thousands of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), from local hardware stores to construction subcontractors access to bank-issued, interest-free credit lines for inventory purchases.
The partnership arrives at a critical juncture for Africa’s SMEs, which make up 90% of the continent’s businesses and generate 60% of employment, yet grapple with a staggering $350 billion financing gap. Historically, these businesses have been ensnared in cash flow constraints, limiting their ability to buy in bulk and scale operations.
tabb’s model aims to break this cycle by streamlining trade credit flows, allowing SMEs to leverage revolving credit while ensuring suppliers like Doshi receive prompt payments.
“For years, trade customers across the market have been constrained by limited working capital, holding back their ability to purchase in bulk, expand, and grow,” said Hemal, Director at Doshi.
With the tabb network, we’re removing that constraint. We can now confidently say ‘yes’ to every customer and unlock faster growth right at the point of purchase.
Mesh Alloys, Founder of tabb, echoed this sentiment, viewing the alliance as a pivotal step forward. “This partnership is a live blueprint for the future of trade on the continent,” Alloys stated.
“Doshi’s move validates a massive need: SMEs finally get the purchasing power and extended payment terms to grow, suppliers get paid instantly, and banks can profitably serve small businesses at scale. This is the network effect that makes trade credit work.”
How the Tabb Network Transforms Trade Credit
The Digital Credit Line
At its core, tabb isn’t a lender but a facilitator of infrastructure that connects banks, suppliers, and SMEs in a seamless, closed-loop system. The process is straightforward yet revolutionary:
- Suppliers like Doshi join tabb’s network and offer a “Pay with tabb” option at checkout.
- SME buyers apply once for a revolving credit line from partner banks.
- Upon purchase, suppliers receive payment the same day, while SMEs repay the full amount over 30-90 days, interest-free.
This setup addresses a longstanding three-sided market failure in B2B commerce. Banks often shy away from SMEs due to high risks and acquisition costs. Suppliers end up extending credit informally, straining their own cash flows. And SMEs are left without affordable, timely capital, hampering growth.
Tabb’s infrastructure flips the script: Banks can deploy capital profitably through standardized rails, suppliers offload credit risk, and SMEs gain the flexibility to optimize inventory and execute projects.
Starting in Africa—where post-dated checks still dominate B2B transactions and the SME financing gap is most pronounced, tabb is targeting high-need sectors like construction hardware, logistics, pharmaceuticals, and retail.
Kenya’s construction boom, fueled by infrastructure investments and urbanization, makes this timing particularly apt. As digital payment adoption surges and banks open APIs post-pandemic, the conditions are ripe for embedded trade credit solutions.
“Customer credit demand has exceeded supplier capacity,” Alloys noted, highlighting how SME digitization has created fertile ground for innovation.
Mesh Alloys, Founder of tabb
Founded by Mesh Alloys, tabb is on a mission to unlock the global B2B credit market by providing the foundational infrastructure that makes trade credit efficient and scalable.
“We’re creating the rails that will power the next generation of B2B commerce,” Alloys explained, envisioning a world where businesses access instant credit lines seamlessly, regardless of location.
Alloys brings a wealth of experience to the table. A seasoned entrepreneur, he co-founded and chairs Boya, a Y Combinator-backed platform offering all-in-one finance and banking for businesses.
Previously, he co-founded Sendy, a logistics firm, and serves as an Entrepreneur in Residence at Enza Capital, a pan-African venture capital fund.
His expertise in B2B commerce, logistics, and corporate card issuing programs informs tabb’s approach to solving real-world financing frictions.
