Ugandan startup XenFi is helping internet service providers and Wi-Fi hotspot operators sell internet access, manage customers and collect payments through a single platform as it expands across Africa.
Founded in 2025, the startup has developed a hotspot billing and management system that allows operators to sell internet access, monitor transactions, manage customers and control multiple MikroTik routers from a centralised dashboard.
The platform also supports mobile money payments, enabling hotspot businesses to handle billing and collections without relying on disconnected tools or manual processes.
“Many hotspot operators need to manage customer access, sell vouchers, collect payments, monitor revenue and administer multiple routers,” XenFi Chief Executive Officer Charles Wasswa said, adding that the platform brings these functions together in one system.
Despite being self-funded, XenFi has become profitable and employs more than 100 people, according to Wasswa.
He said operating without external investors had forced the company to manage its resources carefully while developing its technology and acquiring customers.
“Rather than treating profitability as the end goal, we are using it to strengthen our technology, expand our operations and reach more customers,” he said.
XenFi currently serves approximately 6,000 active users in Uganda and has customers in nearly 15 African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Gabon. The company has also established a physical presence in Kenya.
Wasswa said the startup had received encouraging responses from businesses in markets beyond Uganda, where operators were adopting its platform to manage hotspot services and payments.
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XenFi generates revenue through platform charges, billing fees and transaction fees, with pricing varying by service and market. The company expects its revenue to grow as customers expand their businesses and process more transactions through the platform.
The startup competes with international hotspot billing providers, regional technology companies and locally developed systems, as well as operators that still rely on manual processes.
According to Wasswa, XenFi differentiates itself through its focus on African market needs, integration with local payment systems and ease of use.
However, expansion across different countries presents challenges, including variations in payment infrastructure, customer expectations, connectivity and regulatory requirements.
Wasswa said the company prioritised system reliability, customer support and continuous product improvement to maintain service quality as it expanded.
XenFi plans to deepen its presence in existing markets, strengthen local partnerships and enter additional African countries as it seeks to grow its customer base.
About the Author
Cecilia Attah is a tech analyst with a degree from Benue State University. She covers tech news and startups at TechRegard with a focus on how technology is transforming Africa and shaping the global landscape.
