WafR has developed a digital platform that transforms local corner shops, or hanouts, into access points for financial and digital services. Founded in Casablanca in 2021 by Ismail Bargach and Reda Sellak, the startup recently raised $4 million to expand its technology and scale operations.
The platform, available via mobile app and website, enables nearly 20,000 merchants to offer mobile top-ups, bill payments, and other digital transactions, leveraging trust built by neighborhood retailers. WafR also plans to introduce peer-to-peer transfers and domestic remittances, while providing brands with tools for targeted promotions and consumer data insights.
This hybrid fintech-retail model addresses financial inclusion challenges in Morocco, digitizing informal retail networks rather than replacing them, and positioning WafR as a leading community-based digital finance platform.
