By purchasing Zeelo, a London-based mobility platform that commenced operations in South Africa in 2019, Egyptian transportation startup SWVL, recently classified as a unicorn, has finally gained access to another critical African market, South Africa.
Zeelo recently raised $12 million investment from a host of investors, including ETF Partners, InMotion Ventures and Neil Smith, the founder of Transit Systems
Over 20,000 Vehicles At Its Disposal In South Africa
Zeelo, which began operations in the United Kingdom in 2016 and moved to South Africa in 2018, has partnered with over 20,000 vehicles to provide commuting, event, and private transportation services across the country.
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The company claims to have transported over 18 000 local passengers since its introduction in the country, and it plans to expand swiftly in the country by forming agreements with large employers who want to provide sustainable transportation options for their employees.
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In South Africa, Zeelo began as ‘The Rugga Bus,’ a service that transported Cell C Sharks supporters to and from Jonsson Kings Park on match days. Andrew Robarts and James Champion, two Durban residents, ran the Rugga Bus until word of the concept reached London, when Zeelo co-founders Sam Ryan and Barney Williams were interested.
The teams reached an agreement, and ‘The Rugga Bus’ was renamed Zeelo SA. Zeelo now caters to big sporting events, concerts, and festivals all throughout South Africa. The company has ties to the Super Rugby franchises in South Africa, as well as South African cricket and a number of festivals.
“Zeelo’s focus on public transport deserts directly tackles the issues of car-dependency, transport emissions and social mobility. The growth of the business during the pandemic has been extraordinary and we are delighted to continue to support the business. The world needs need more and affordable and sustainable mass transit — Zeelo is defining the category” added Patrick Sheehan, Managing Partner at ETF Partners, which had previously invested $5.8m million in Zeelo.
By assisting enterprises in the logistics and manufacturing industries, as well as post-pandemic hybrid workplaces and schools, Zeelo claims it has grown its revenue by over 600 percent in the last 18 months, attaining regional profitability. It allows residents in car-dependent communities to use sustainable transportation to get to work and school.
How The Zeelo Model Works
In order to boost staff recruitment and minimize CO2 emissions from commuting, Zeelo collaborates with companies, schools, and fleet operators to create inexpensive and convenient bus programs that provide a viable alternative to driving a car. When compared to a traditional bus operator, Zeelo’s mobile apps, client workspace planning tools, route-optimisation software, and asset-light vehicle model reduce expenses by up to 42 percent and CO2 emissions by 78 percent.
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Zeelo has worked with a number of event companies and local car providers in South Africa, including Jaguar Land Rover, The Sharks, South African Cricket, and Big Concerts, to supply the vehicles required to transport Zeelo passengers securely to their destination.
Sam Ryan and Barney Williams, serial mobility entrepreneurs, founded Zeelo in 2014. The company, which is headquartered in London, operates in the United Kingdom, the United States, and South Africa, serving over 70 customers with over 75 staff and transporting almost 100,000 riders per month.
SWVL Zeelo South Africa SWVL Zeelo South Africa
Charles Rapulu Udoh
Charles Rapulu Udoh is a Lagos-based lawyer, who has several years of experience working in Africa’s burgeoning tech startup industry. He has closed multi-million dollar deals bordering on venture capital, private equity, intellectual property (trademark, patent or design, etc.), mergers and acquisitions, in countries such as in the Delaware, New York, UK, Singapore, British Virgin Islands, South Africa, Nigeria etc. He’s also a corporate governance and cross-border data privacy and tax expert.
As an award-winning writer and researcher, he is passionate about telling the African startup story, and is one of the continent’s pioneers in this regard. You can book a session and speak with him using the link: https://insightsbyexperts.com/view_expert/charles-rapulu-udoh