Cape Town-founded mobility technology startup WhereIsMyTransport and is a central source of complete public transport data for emerging-market megacities has secured $14.5-million which’s equivalent to at least R42-million in funding from Naspers. This investment forms part of the R201-million funding round led by Naspers Foundry, Cathay AfricInvest Innovation Fund, and SBI Investment.
Many people in emerging markets depend on informal public transport to move across cities. But while there are ride-hailing and bus-hailing applications in some of these cities, there’s a dire need for journey-planning apps to improve mobility for users and reduce the time they spend commuting and WhereIsMyTransport is one such company filling that gap for now.
Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa, South Africa CEO of Naspers comments on the importance of supporting innovations that address mobility issues.
“Mobility remains an obstacle for billions of people in high-growth markets across the world. Our investment in WhereIsMyTransport is a testimony of our belief that great innovation and tech talent is found in South Africa, and with the right backing and support these businesses can provide solutions to local challenges that can improve the lives of ordinary people in South Africa and abroad.”
WhereIsMyTransport
Founded in Cape Town in 2015, the mobility tech startup maps formals and informal public transport networks and uses this data and technology to improve the public transport experience. This makes the public commute more reliable, predictable, safe, inclusive, and accessible for individuals residing in highly populated cities.
WhereIsMyTransport aims to develop mobility solutions that are tailored to commuters in Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Latin America with real-time public transport network alerts. The tech startup leverages technology to improve commuters’ public transport.
The collected mobility datasets are licenced to governments, development finance institutions, NGOs, operators and third-party solution developers to be used towards research, analytics, insights, and enterprise solutions. In South Africa, WhereIsMyTransport clientele includes the Gautrain in Johannesburg and its international clients feature renowned enterprises such as Google, the World Bank, and others.
Devin de Vries, WhereIsMyTransport CEO and co-founder comments on the funding secured.
“WhereIsMyTransport started in South Africa, focused on becoming a central source of accurate and reliable public transport data for high-growth markets. We’re thrilled to welcome Naspers as an investor as our journey continues in megacities across the Majority World.”
A new product
The unique mobility tech startup has launched its first consumer product Rumbo in Latin America. Rumbo is the first to provide network information from all modes of public transport in this market and has over 100 000 users and delivered over 750,000 real-time network alerts since its launch in Mexico City in November 2020. The app will be launched in Lima, Peru later this year.
