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Why We Invested in BuuPass: Easing Intercity Travel Across Africa
By Renew Capital | Tue Jul 16 2024
Over 30 million Africans rely on buses for inter-city and cross-border transportation daily, contributing to a $40B domestic transport industry annually. However, transportation systems in the region are underfunded and lack the necessary technology to operate efficiently. Historically, bus operators have relied on unreliable paper ticketing, which requires customers to appear in person and wait in long lines to purchase bus tickets. Furthermore, companies often oversell bus tickets because they lack a digital system to track the number of tickets sold, resulting in customers arriving on the day of their travel with a paid-for ticket in hand, but no seat available on the bus.
BuuPass provides millions of travelers with ease and convenience through digital schedules, online bookings and streamlined intercity travel. BuuPass, operating on a B2B2C model, partners with transport companies by providing a platform that digitizes their ticketing and bus management to minimize overselling, increase asset utilization and increase convenience for their customers.
Renew Capital invested in BuuPass because of its growth potential, strong founders and significant impact on easing transport challenges in Africa. Other investors in BuuPass include Founders Factory Africa, FrontEnd Ventures and Google for Startups Black Founders Fund.
Photo courtesy of BuuPass
Strong Founders
BuuPass was founded in 2016 by Sonia Kabra and Wyclife Omondi. Sonia, from India, and Wyclife, from Kenya, met during college in the U.S. They identified transportation as a significant challenge in their home countries and envisioned improving the sector through digitalization. Their innovative idea gained traction when they secured $1M in funding to bring their concept to the market through the Hult Prize award supported by President Bill Clinton. With visionary leadership, they are quickly establishing BuuPass as a key player in Africa’s transportation sector.
Demonstrated Traction
BuuPass’ key milestones include:
- Since launching first in Kenya and offering both domestic and international routes, BuuPass has sold over 6 million travel tickets and generated more than $100M in ticket sales.
- BuuPass has strategic partnerships with African telcos and super apps like M-PESA. Through its partnership with the M-PESA app, a financial super app, it provides booking services to around 10 million Kenyans who use the mobile money app.
- As of 2024, BuuPass has raised a pre-seed funding round of $1.3M from investors including Renew Capital, Founders Factory Africa, FrontEnd Ventures, Adaverse, Gullit, Five35, Changecom, XA Network, Ajim Capital, Artha Ventures, Daba Finance, Google Black Founders Fund and several angel investors.
- In 2024, BuuPass made headlines when they announced an investment from veteran Silicon Valley investor Tim Draper after being selected to pitch for the African region on the show "Meet the Drapers." Tim Draper is known for funding major companies like Coinbase, Baidu, Tesla, Skype, SpaceX, Twitch and Hotmail.
Orientation Towards Growth
BuuPass has expanded its presence across Africa by acquiring QuickBus in 2024. This acquisition added international routes across 16 African countries, including Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Malawi, Nigeria, and Ghana. It also granted BuuPass access to the South African and Nigerian markets, supporting their expansion plans to eight more countries by 2025.
"BuuPass is not only assisting transport operators in running more efficient businesses but also supporting a connected Africa. Efficient transportation is a crucial step in economic development, and BuuPass is an exciting part of the continent's transition." — Laura Davis, Managing Partner and co-CEO of Renew Capital.
Renew Capital is an Africa-focused impact investment firm that backs innovative companies with high-growth potential. Renew Capital manages investments made on behalf of the Renew Capital Angels, a global network of angel investors, foundations and family offices who seek financial returns and sustainable social impact. For the latest on investing in Africa, subscribe and follow us at our social links below.
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