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Data-Driven Logistics: South Africa’s GoMetro Raises $11.4M in Series A to Accelerate Global Expansion

November 29, 2023

GoMetro, a South African tech company specializing in fleet management, recently secured a £9 million (~$11.4 million) investment in a Series A funding round. Leading the investment is Zenobē Energy, a strategic investor known for its involvement in financing and operating electric buses, particularly in collaboration with the U.K.’s National Grid. Other contributors include Futuregrowth, ESquared Ventures, Kalon Venture Partners, and angel investor Greg Fury, along with existing investors like 4 Decades Capital, Hlayisani Capital, and Tritech Global.

GoMetro operates a Software as a Service (SaaS) fleet management technology platform, with its flagship product, Bridge, serving as a telemetry and data aggregator. Zenobē Energy’s interest in GoMetro stems from the recognition of the pivotal role robust data quality plays in driving financing, aligning with GoMetro’s expertise in logistics optimization software. The collaboration aims to enhance services for Zenobē’s extensive customer base, particularly in the realm of electric transport-as-a-service.

Why The Investors Invested

The substantial investment in GoMetro can be attributed to several key factors.

Specialized Expertise and Niche Focus:

Investors are likely attracted to GoMetro due to its specialized expertise in logistics optimization software, particularly in the fleet management space. The fact that GoMetro operates in a niche market, focusing on the data challenges within transportation networks, positions the startup as a leader in a specific and crucial segment of the tech industry. Investors often seek companies with deep domain knowledge and a clear focus on solving specific challenges, and GoMetro’s emphasis on logistics and data management aligns with this criterion.

Market Potential and Growth Prospects

GoMetro’s impressive growth metrics, including doubling its revenue over the past 12 months and ambitious plans to triple current revenue, signal positive market reception and scalability. Investors are likely drawn to the company’s ability to actively deliver tangible value to clients, addressing critical challenges in data extraction and operational efficiency. The expansion into the electric vehicle category, with a network of over 15,000 vehicles and partnerships with key industry players, further indicates the startup’s potential to capitalize on the evolving transportation sector. Investors often seek opportunities with strong growth prospects and a clear roadmap for scaling operations.

Innovation in Electric Vehicle Telematics

The focus on electric vehicle telematics and the ambition to pioneer OEM-agnostic electric vehicle telematics position GoMetro as an innovative player in the transportation technology space. Investors recognize the significance of addressing the shift towards electric vehicles across the spectrum. GoMetro’s commitment to developing groundbreaking technology that manages electric buses and trucks better aligns with the changing dynamics of the transportation sector. The potential for the startup to play a leading role in the electrification of heavy-duty vehicles adds to its attractiveness for investors seeking opportunities in the rapidly evolving electric vehicle market.

A Look at GoMetro

Founded nine years ago by Justin Coetzee, a civil engineer with a background in transportation systems, GoMetro originated from the inadequacy of available data for designing transportation networks in South Africa. Coetzee’s initial project involved creating a chatbot for informing people about train arrival times during the 2010 World Cup, leading to the development of GoMetro.

GoMetro’s flagship product, Bridge, functions as a telemetry and data aggregator for diverse vehicles, regardless of make or model. The platform consolidates relevant data, allowing fleet managers to access and analyze information without being constrained by disparate telematics systems. GoMetro has evolved into a critical player in the South African logistics data management space, with a focus on electric vehicle and bus management in the U.K.

The company’s strategic move into the electric vehicle category, including a network of over 1,000 electric vehicles, has significantly contributed to its business growth. GoMetro’s next targets include tripling its revenue over the next year and integrating over 2,000 electric vehicles and 50,000 diesel vehicles onto its platform. The Series A funding will support operations in the U.K., Europe, and South Africa, with plans for expansion into the U.S., Latin America, Australia, and possibly the Middle East.

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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

South African Taxi Industry Warming Up for Electric Minibus Taxis

June 10, 2022

THERE is an ongoing research into the possible transition of South African Taxis and minibuses to electric vehicles. One of such projects is a research partnership to investigate and advance the feasibility of an electric minibus taxi in South African conditions by testing production vehicles in South Africa in 2023.

As the fuel price hits historic highs, commuters are starting to feel the pinch of increasing transport fares. The typical South African commuter already spends up to 40% of their income on transport and the minibus taxi sector is still struggling from the impact of the last two years on their operations.

However, relief could be possible from an unlikely source – electric minibus taxis. Privately-owned minibus taxis are ubiquitous in sub-Saharan Africa and carry more than 70% of daily commuters.

For the last five years GoMetro, a global mobility management technology company with its head office in Cape Town, has collected data on taxi operations across South Africa. In order to advance e-mobility development locally, GoMetro has convened a project team of innovative companies and researchers to launch a demonstrator project to test the first minibus in South African conditions by January 2023.

The project team, consisting of GoMetro, MiX Telematics, HSW, ACDC Dynamics, and various entities within Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Engineering, will conduct rigorous and extensive testing in and around the town of Stellenbosch, as well as putting the electrification of the minibus taxi sector firmly on the national agenda by means of an educational roadshow in all nine provinces in the course of 2023.

A number of viable electric minibus taxi models from various markets have been identified, the first of which will be on South African shores by the end of the year. The acceptance and practicality of the model will be extensively tested with taxi owners and drivers, in order to identify the use cases and conditions where an electric taxi would make the most sense.

“Taxi drivers and owners are very interested and intrigued by the idea of an electric minibus taxi, and are constantly asking us when the first electric minibus taxi will arrive on our shores”, says Justin Coetzee, GoMetro CEO.

“We have built valuable relationships with a large number of taxi associations, and the ever-increasing fuel price is a massive concern among owners, drivers and riders alike, as there does not seem to be any relief in sight. The industry has long acknowledged that business as usual will not suffice – and that change is required, especially after the effects of COVID-19,” Coetzee adds.

The aim of testing different models over the coming months is to establish which vehicle will be best suited to the South African public transport industry, and what spectrum of operations are conducive to the range capabilities of the vehicles. In addition to testing the vehicle itself, the project team wants to engage with the automotive sector and policymakers to encourage proactive discussions with the government around the reduction of duties and the promotion of the adoption of electric vehicles in the transport sector.

“Since MiX Telematics is at the forefront of innovation and leveraging new technologies to improve fleet operations and efficiency, we are very excited to be part of this pioneering initiative. We have seen the adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles increasing exponentially in Europe, and so look forward to learning how we can support these solutions in the South African context,” says Catherine Lewis, Executive VP of Technology at MiX Telematics.

Professor Thinus Booysen, Research Chair in the Internet of Things at Stellenbosch University, will lead the team of testing experts.

“The informal taxi sector must transform to EVs, but little is known about their energy requirements. This unknown is overshadowed by our energy scarcity and coal dependence on the electricity supply side. This collaborative project will ensure we are prepared for and carefully manage this exciting transition,” says Booysen.

The electric minibus taxi will be showcased at the Stellenbosch University campus.

According to Dr. Bernard Bekker, Associate Director of Stellenbosch University’s Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies (CRSES), the future electrification of the transport section in South Africa raises significant technical and regulatory challenges related to integrating electric transport into our existing grid infrastructure.

These challenges are in many ways unique to South Africa, where minibus taxis will potentially represent a much larger proportion of the future electrical fleet than for example Europe or the USA.

“The availability of a real-life electric minibus taxi to inform our research activities will provide very valuable inputs into addressing these challenges,” Dr. Bekker says.

“The minibus taxi is ubiquitous in the South African landscape moving millions of people over the years, contributing to getting South Africa to work – unfortunately in an environmentally unsustainable manner. ACDC Dynamics is proud to be part of the change that will be brought to this industry as it adopts electric / battery-powered taxis through our capabilities to supply battery charging networks across the country,” says Mario Maio, Founder and Managing Director of ACDC Dynamics.

“HSW is passionate about bringing manufacturing local. The Western Cape has all the technical skills and resources to set up manufacturing facilities in support of such an initiative. There are already existing Electronic Manufacturers who have world-class capabilities in the manufacturing of electronic products such as Barracuda Holdings who is one of HSW’s key customers as evidence that this type of hi-tech manufacturing technology is already available locally,” says Ryan Webb, Managing Member HSW.

Electric vehicles (EVs) are heralded as a silver bullet to globally decarbonise the transport sector. The development of low-carbon transport in cities is part of the global agenda to delay climate change and relates to many of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

While EV sales have increased substantially in the Global North and many global vehicle manufacturers plan to stop production of combustion engines as early as 2030, in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the transition to EVs continues to be painstakingly slow. This research project aims to accelerate this transition to cleaner and greener mobility.

Kelechi Deca

Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry

South African Logistics Tech GoMetro Raises $1M In Seed Extension Funding

May 6, 2022

According to a statement from Kalon Venture Partners, logistics company GoMetro has raised R16.3 million ($1 million) in a seed extension round to accelerate its growth, strengthen its sales team, and swiftly expand into the South African, UK, and American markets.

GoMetro raised the funding from Kalon Venture Partners, Hlayisani Capital, Tritech Global, 4Decades Capital, and E Squared Investments, which will be utilized for key recruitment and to continue investing in its revolutionary tech platform, product engineering, and development.

“By using our mobility management platform and digitising their entire fleet, operators can save up to 30 per cent in operating costs by increasing overall vehicle utilisation, controlling excess mileage and managing back-office costs. We have also seen our customers increase the certainty and accuracy of their delivery windows by 50 per cent,” said the CEO of GoMetro, Justin Coetzee.

Clive Butkow, CEO of Kalon Venture Partners, expressed his excitement to be an investor in a company that is growing both locally and globally.

“Kalon’s investment was motivated by the exceptional GoMetro team, as well as the innovative digitization of transport operations to better manage mobility. The GoMetro fleet works with logistics providers’ existing investment in telematics, provides accurate route planning and on-time alerts, and saves them money in back-office costs and contract performance,” he said.

GoMetro is a mobility management platform that helps public transportation and logistics providers improve operational efficiency, future-proof services, and increase competitiveness.

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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