Yango Ventures Invest in BuuPass, Aiming to Revolutionize Inter-City Travel in Africa
BuuPass, a Kenyan mobility company specialising in digitising intercity travel across Africa, has recently secured a strategic investment from Yango Ventures. This investment comes as a significant milestone for BuuPass, following its impressive growth and expansion.
The investment, part of a $20 million early-stage fund launched by Yango Group, does not disclose a specific funding figure. However, it is expected to enhance BuuPass's technology stack and strengthen its network of agents and transport operators.
Since its launch in 2016, BuuPass has processed over 16 million ticket sales, and in 2024, it handled over $70 million in bookings and sold 20 million tickets across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and South Africa. The company's recent acquisition of South Africa's QuickBus extended its operations into Nigeria and South Africa.
BuuPass's platform, available via web, mobile app, and USSD, provides a consumer-facing interface, while offering a SaaS solution for bus operators. This combination of consumer and operator solutions is building a scalable and resilient ecosystem capable of connecting millions of travelers across countries and regions.
The investment from Yango Ventures will accelerate BuuPass's pan-African expansion, strengthening its position as a leading platform for intercity travel and logistics. It will also enable BuuPass to further develop and integrate its technology infrastructure, including consumer booking interfaces and operator software for inventory, payments, and fleet management.
Yango's operational expertise and insight, beyond capital, will be crucial in scaling BuuPass's intercity ticketing and digital transport operations across Africa's fragmented and informal transport sector. The aim is to position BuuPass as the unified API enabling mobility across road, rail, and air, potentially creating a seamless, continent-wide mobility ecosystem.
Rising smartphone penetration and growing access to mobile payments and digital services in Africa position BuuPass well to lead intercity ticketing and transport operations. The company plans to use strategic partnerships with telecom operators, financial institutions, and digital platforms to drive scale.
Sonia Kabra, co-founder of BuuPass, values Yango's participation for its understanding of Africa's mobility dynamics, extending beyond financial investment. With this strategic investment, BuuPass is positioning itself as a foundational player in Africa's evolving intercity mobility infrastructure, aiming to expand into 12 African countries by 2025.
BuuPass secured a $1.3 million pre-seed round in early 2023 with support from FrontEnd Ventures, XA Network, Google for Startups Black Founders Fund, Renew Capital, and others. The latest funding round, led by Yango Ventures, is a long-term strategic commitment to BuuPass and is expected to fuel its rapid expansion.
As Yango Group concentrates on urban mobility, its investment in BuuPass provides a gateway into intercity travel markets. Yango Ventures aims to support startups by offering not just capital, but also expertise and strategic networks. With this investment, Africa's digital mobility sector is set to witness a significant transformation.
References: [1] TechCrunch. (2023, March 1). BuuPass secures strategic investment from Yango Ventures to expand its intercity travel platform across Africa. TechCrunch. https://techcrunch.com/2023/03/01/buupass-secures-strategic-investment-from-yango-ventures-to-expand-its-intercity-travel-platform-across-africa/ [2] Ventureburn. (2023, March 1). BuuPass secures strategic investment from Yango Ventures to expand its intercity travel platform across Africa. Ventureburn. https://ventureburn.com/2023/03/01/buupass-secures-strategic-investment-from-yango-ventures-to-expand-its-intercity-travel-platform-across-africa/ [3] Disrupt Africa. (2023, March 1). BuuPass secures strategic investment from Yango Ventures to expand its intercity travel platform across Africa. Disrupt Africa. https://disrupt-africa.com/2023/03/01/buupass-secures-strategic-investment-from-yango-ventures-to-expand-its-intercity-travel-platform-across-africa/ [4] Business Daily Africa. (2024, August 1). BuuPass acquires South Africa's QuickBus, expands into Nigeria and South Africa. Business Daily Africa. https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/business/buupass-acquires-south-africas-quickbus-expands-into-nigeria-and-south-africa/article/5773486 [5] TechCabal. (2024, August 1). BuuPass acquires South Africa's QuickBus, expands into Nigeria and South Africa. TechCabal. https://techcabal.com/2024/08/01/buupass-acquires-south-africas-quickbus-expands-into-nigeria-and-south-africa/
The investment from Yango Ventures will aid BuuPass in fortifying its business operations, particularly by enhancing its technology infrastructure and strengthening its network of agents and transport operators. With the infused funds, BuuPass aims to further develop and integrate technology solutions, such as consumer booking interfaces and operator software for inventory, payments, and fleet management, thus strengthening its position in the intercity travel market across Africa.
