M-PESA Ethiopia has broken new ground by teaming up with Gebeya Inc. to launch the Dala AI Bundle, making it the first service in Africa to integrate advanced AI creation tools directly into a mobile money subscription. This means users can now access AI-powered app building, game creation, and content generation straight from their phone wallets, bypassing the usual hurdles of credit card ownership and foreign payment barriers in Ethiopia.
At the core of the bundle is Gebeya’s Dala Studio, a no-code platform that supports app development, AI agents, games, and even content in local languages like Amharic and Oromo. Traditionally, AI tools have been English-only and often expensive, but this partnership brings cutting-edge digital tools to a wider Ethiopian audience, democratizing creative opportunities for students, merchants, and storytellers alike.
Since its launch in 2023, M-PESA Ethiopia has rapidly become the go-to platform for transfers, bill payments, and daily money movement in a largely cash-based economy. By linking M-PESA with Dala AI, the mobile wallet is transforming from a basic financial tool into a gateway for digital creativity and the emerging creator economy. Users can now earn and innovate directly from the app they already trust.
For Gebeya, the collaboration is a strategic leap. The company has already attracted tens of thousands of Dala Studio users, many converting to paid plans. Integrating with M-PESA’s extensive user base gives Gebeya nationwide reach without building distribution networks from scratch. Observers say this is especially timely in Ethiopia, where digital banking and online payments remain limited compared to neighboring countries.
Leaders from both companies emphasize the social and economic potential. Amadou Daffe of Gebeya said, “A student in Addis Ababa, a merchant in Bahir Dar, or a storyteller in Hawassa can now create content in their own language using the same M-PESA app they rely on every day.” Elsa Muzzolini, head of M-PESA Ethiopia, added that this expansion represents a natural evolution of the service into a broader digital ecosystem. The Dala AI Bundle is live through Dala Studio, with full in-app integration expected soon, potentially setting the stage for AI-powered mobile money across Africa.
source: business day