Yango Ventures invests in BuuPass, aiming to transform long-distance transportation across Africa.
BuuPass Secures Investment to Expand Intercity Travel Services Across Africa
BuuPass, a Kenyan mobility company, has secured a strategic investment from Yango Ventures, a part of the Yango Group's newly launched $20 million corporate venture fund. This investment aims to accelerate BuuPass's expansion across Africa and strengthen its presence in the intercity transport sector.
With the rising smartphone penetration and growing access to mobile payments and digital services, BuuPass is well-placed to lead intercity ticketing and transport operations across the continent. The company plans to use this investment to scale its digital platform that integrates intercity travel booking and bus operator management.
The platform provides a consumer-facing interface available via web, mobile app, and USSD, as well as a SaaS solution for bus operators. This advanced technology platform aims to address the inefficiencies typical of Africa’s informal transport networks.
BuuPass has already expanded its reach through the acquisition of QuickBus in 2024, which extended its operations into South Africa and Nigeria. The company continues to integrate thousands of routes and transport operators continent-wide. With this investment, BuuPass is positioning itself as a foundational player in Africa's evolving intercity mobility infrastructure.
The latest funding round, from Yango Ventures, reflects a long-term strategic commitment to BuuPass. Yango Ventures aims to support startups by offering not just capital, but also expertise and strategic networks. BuuPass co-founder Sonia Kabra noted that Yango's participation offers valuable understanding of Africa's mobility dynamics, extending beyond financial investment.
The funding is expected to fuel BuuPass's rapid expansion, enhance its technology stack, and strengthen its network of agents and transport operators. Yango Ventures' investment in BuuPass provides a gateway into intercity travel markets, positioning the company to potentially integrate urban and intercity mobility solutions for a broader pan-African mobility ecosystem.
BuuPass has processed over 16 million ticket sales and enabled more than $100 million in travel transactions since its 2016 launch. The company is advancing its pan-African growth strategy, aiming to expand into 12 African countries by 2025.
In early 2023, BuuPass secured a $1.3 million pre-seed round with support from FrontEnd Ventures, XA Network, Google for Startups Black Founders Fund, and Renew Capital. The specific funding figure in this latest round remains undisclosed.
With this investment, BuuPass is set to digitize intercity travel across Africa, expanding its footprint from Kenya and neighbouring countries into a broader African market.
BuuPass, equipped with investment from Yango Ventures, will leverage technology to digitize intercity travel across Africa, positioning itself as a key player in the continent's growing business sector. This strategic investment aims to strengthen BuuPass's presence in the intercity transport sector and accelerate its expansion, fueling growth in the finance arena.
