South African fintech company Yoco has acquired local artificial intelligence startup Dyner.AI, marking its first major acquisition and signalling a broader push beyond payment processing into AI-powered business software.
The deal represents a strategic shift for Yoco, which has built its reputation by providing card payment machines and digital payment solutions to small and medium-sized businesses. With the acquisition, the company aims to develop a comprehensive commerce platform that combines payments, point-of-sale systems, financial services, operational software and AI-driven tools.
Dyner.AI specialises in software that helps restaurants and other businesses manage daily operations, analyse performance data and automate decision-making. By integrating these capabilities into its existing products, Yoco hopes to offer merchants a single platform that supports everything from processing transactions to generating business insights.
The move comes as South Africa’s retail sector becomes increasingly technology-driven. Major retailers and pharmacy chains have invested heavily in digital platforms, delivery services, loyalty programmes and financial products to strengthen customer relationships and improve operations.
Yoco appears to be taking a different approach by focusing on the software infrastructure that powers businesses behind the scenes. With more than 200,000 merchants already using its services, the company has an established customer base that could benefit from its expanded suite of AI-enabled tools.
Founded in 2013 by Katlego Maphai, Carl Wazen, Bradley Wattrus and Lungisa Matshoba, Yoco has grown from a startup helping businesses accept card payments into one of South Africa’s leading fintech companies, with an estimated valuation exceeding R12 billion. Over the years, it has expanded into point-of-sale technology, online payments and merchant financing.
The acquisition also follows a leadership change at the company. In May 2026, Yoco appointed former Solaris chief executive Carsten Höltkemeyer as its new CEO, making him the first non-founder to lead the business. His experience in integrating generative AI into financial services aligns with Yoco’s growing focus on artificial intelligence.
By bringing Dyner.AI into its operations, Yoco is positioning itself as more than a payments provider. The company is betting that AI-powered software and integrated business tools will become increasingly important as merchants seek smarter ways to manage and grow their operations in a rapidly evolving digital economy.
