Niteon, one of Nigeria’s largest digital export marketplaces, has launched Niteon Capital, Africa’s first neobank designed exclusively for manufacturers and exporters.
Founded by Nigerian entrepreneurs Tony Nwose and Daniel Chukwuemelie, the U.S.-based startup has built a reputation for connecting verified African manufacturers in agriculture, fabrics, and mineral products with international buyers.
With operations spanning the U.S., U.K., Canada, and South Asia, and a recent FDA Global Partner License opening access to the U.S. market, Niteon has positioned itself as a rising force in Africa’s digital trade ecosystem.
The launch of Niteon Capital marks the company’s transition from a B2B marketplace to a broader TradeTech infrastructure provider, addressing what it describes as one of Africa’s most entrenched bottlenecks: manufacturers’ access to finance.
“African manufacturers are doing the hard work, but they’re being underserved by traditional banks. There’s no financial infrastructure built for them. Niteon Capital changes that,” said Chief Executive Officer Tony Nwose.
Unlike conventional neobanks, Niteon Capital is structured specifically for industrial users and exporters. Its services include:
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Invoice and Procurement Financing to help factories fulfill large purchase orders.
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Sharia-Compliant Financing to support manufacturers across Northern Nigeria and Islamic markets.
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Export Wallet Accounts with tax advantages, carbon credit earnings, and multi-currency features.
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Infrastructure Loans for machinery upgrades, facility expansion, and logistics improvements.
The neobank is embedded directly into Niteon’s digital export platform, creating a seamless ecosystem linking buyers, sellers, logistics providers, and now, financial services.
According to co-founder Daniel Chukwuemelie, the move represents a structural shift in Africa’s trade financing capacity.
“We’re not just scaling a platform. We’re building the financial engine behind Africa’s industrial growth story.”
The launch comes ahead of Niteon’s $6.5 million seed round, comprising $1.5 million in equity and $5 million in debt, which will fund neobank expansion, licensing, AI integration, and onboarding of over 20,000 manufacturers by Q4 2025.
Backed by institutions including Seedstars, TVC Labs, Zenith Bank, Tomi Davis, and the Development Bank of Nigeria, Niteon is leveraging its partnerships to consolidate its position as a leading TradeTech innovator.
Industry observers note that by offering tailored financial tools, Niteon Capital could significantly ease long-standing constraints on African manufacturing, helping exporters compete more effectively in global markets.