Kenyan startup BuuPass, a pioneering B2B2C mobility marketplace platform, is gearing up for significant expansion across Africa as it intends to enter eight more African markets by 2025.
Currently operating in only four countries – Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, and Nigeria- by 2025, BuuPass hopes to expand to 12 nations with operations in eight additional African markets, having recently acquired QuickBus.
Following acquiring QuickBus, a Kenyan bus ticketing company, in February 2023, BuuPass has raised $1.3 million in a pre-seed investment round since then. QuickBus is a 2019 product that combines long-distance bus tickets, making it easy for users to compare prices and make reservations while improving bus operators’ operating efficiency.
BuuPass has presented its expansive intentions for future growth. “Tanzania is our next target, and we have aggressive expansion plans to enter eight new markets by 2025,” said Sonia Kabra, BuuPass co-co-founder. With operations in over 650 areas in Kenya and over 80 in Uganda, BuuPass currently has a robust presence. The company’s growth plan includes B2C marketing, B2B sales for bus digitisation, and alliances with banks and telecommunications providers.
BuuPass’ Marketing Approach
Commissions on bus, train, and airline tickets are how BuuPass makes money. The startup’s strategy mixes B2C marketing initiatives with B2B sales for bus operator modernisation, bolstered by strategic alliances with the banking and telecom industries.
Due to its creative strategy, the firm was accepted into the Google for Startups Accelerator Africa and received funding from the Google for Startups Black Founders Fund.
Despite the number of obstacles that have beset BuuPass, such as the sluggish adoption of digital solutions by bus operators, the development of a robust two-sided marketplace, the effect of COVID-19 on travel, and the difficulties associated with expanding into other countries, Kabra added, “we are overcoming these challenges by strengthening our team, refining our go-to-market models, and developing a focused expansion playbook.
How BuuPass started
Sonia Kabra and Wycliffe Omondi founded BuuPass in 2016, and since then, the company has played a significant role in digitising intercity bus and transit operations throughout Africa. Bus operators can manage operations, inventory, and sales using a comprehensive SaaS platform from the platform, which also lets users browse, compare, and book transport tickets via the web, smartphone, or USSD. More than 16 million travel tickets have been sold by BuuPass to date, bringing in more than $100 million in total sales revenue.
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Ninety-five per cent of the intercity transit sector in Africa remains analogous. Bus operators lack digitalisation tools, which results in inefficiency and a lousy customer experience. There was no website where customers could compare and purchase tickets. Kabra told journalists that local e-ticketing companies and traditional offline operators are our primary rivals.
The startup is well-positioned to revolutionise the travel experience in Africa with its planned expansion strategies and unwavering commitment to digitising the intercity transport industry. BuuPass has emerged as a leader in the mobility business, opening the door for more effective and user-friendly travel options because of its dedication to using technology to tackle practical issues.