Zambian Platform Enables Africans to Connect, Transact, and Do Business

ChitChat is a Zambian social-commerce and fintech platform designed to make digital transactions as simple as sending a message. The platform was developed by Union54, the fintech company co-founded by Perseus Mlambo (CEO) and Alessandra Martini (COO), which first gained prominence for building payment infrastructure across Africa.

ChitChat combines messaging, payments, wallets, and commerce into a single experience, enabling users to communicate, send money, make purchases, and manage transactions in one place.

Built around the idea that people already transact through conversations, ChitChat enables users to send and receive money, make payments, access digital wallets, and interact directly with merchants through a chat-based interface.

The platform has also expanded its capabilities through a partnership with Paymentology and Mastercard, enabling users to access virtual debit cards for online and everyday transactions. By combining communication and financial services, ChitChat makes digital commerce more accessible for consumers and businesses alike.

ChitChat represents the next chapter in Union54’s evolution. Before launching the platform, Union54 became Zambia’s first startup backed by Y Combinator and raised $15 million in seed funding, including a $12 million seed extension led by Tiger Global.

Building on the founders’ experience in payments infrastructure, ChitChat is positioning itself at the intersection of fintech, social commerce, and digital connectivity as Africa’s digital economy continues to expand.