Canadian mobility firm Treepz has acquired Ugabus in a bid to digitise the Ugandan bus company's transportation system while also providing safer commute options across Africa.
Treepz currently operates in Nigeria and Ghana and offers an app that allows passengers to book daily rides along fixed routes within Lagos and Accra. They also serve as an aggregator for more than 12 bus travel companies, including Guo, Efex Executive and Libra Motors that transport customers across 21 cities in Nigeria.
In a blog post, Treepz public relations specialist Victoria Lessor says transport operators can now make better use of their bus systems by replacing manual servicing and ticketing with the company's digitalised offerings and services.
Treepz Uganda (formerly Ugabus) began operations on 1 December with the support of the Ugandan government. Ugabus CEO Ronald Hakiza will become country manager for the newly named company and will bring his team with him.
Treepz co-founder Onyeka Akumah says: “East Africa is an exciting target for Treepz and from Uganda, we would work with this new team led by Hakiza in Uganda to explore our growth plans across the neighbouring countries as we aim towards building the largest shared mobility platform in sub-Saharan Africa.”
In a separate move, Treepz has raised an additional USD$1.5 million in funding to expand its on-demand ride-sharing and intercity bus ticketing services in Africa.
“The company has now successfully closed its oversubscribed seed round after raising a total of $2.8 million USD in the last 3 months starting in August 2021 when their seed round was announced with $1.3 million in investment,” Lessor adds.
The new investors joining the round include Japanese VC, Uncovered Fund along with Dubai based venture capitalists including Blanford Capital and Jonomi Capital. Also, Egypt-based fund, Jedar Capital participated in the round with follow-on investments from previous investors.
Uncovered Fund CEO Takuma Terakubo says: “Treepz is building the most important mobility infrastructure in Africa’s megacities. The development of public transportation is essential in African countries where urbanization is advancing.”
