WhereIsMyTransport, a digital product company using data and technology to improve mass public transport in emerging markets has announced a $7.5 million Series A round that includes returning investors Global Innovation Fund and Goodwell Investments, plus new strategic investment from Google, Nedbank, Liil Ventures, and Toyota Tsusho Corporation (TTC).
WhereIsMyTransport began its work in Africa in 2015, before expanding into India, Southeast Asia, and Latin America in 2018.
The new strategic investment will drive further international expansion, continuing to lead the world in using data and technology to make public transport more accessible, more predictable, and safer to use for the billions of people who rely on it every day.
The funding will enable WhereIsMyTransport to further capitalise on its market-leading position by extending its global reach, scaling its data-collection practice, and developing new technology to translate complex data into useful information for commuters in the world’s fastest-growing low- and middle-income cities.
WhereIsMyTransport’s CEO, Devin de Vries, says: “We make the invisible visible, by collecting all kinds of data related to public transport, and turning the data into information that can be shared with the people who need it most.
“In emerging markets, the mobility ecosystem is complex; informal public transport doesn’t behave like formal public transport. Data and technology solutions that work well in London or San Francisco wouldn’t make anything like the same impact, if any at all, in the cities where we work. Our solutions are designed specifically to overcome these contextual challenges.
He adds: “Bringing these investors together to support our mission is not only an honour but real proof that we are building something meaningful and remarkable in the majority world.”
“We are pleased to have the opportunity to invest in WhereIsMyTransport’s Series A funding,” says Mr. Masato Yamanami, Automotive Division’s CEO of Toyota Tsusho Corporation.
“Through strategic collaboration with WhereIsMyTransport, we will develop better and more efficient mobility services that help to resolve social challenges and contribute to the overall economic development of nations, primarily emerging nations.”
With more than 750,000 km of routes in 39 cities, WhereIsMyTransport has more mobility data in emerging markets than any other organisation. The company’s integrated mobility hub translates formal and informal public transport data into information for citizens, governments, and third parties.
Janade Du Plessis, Head of Alternative Investments and Venture Capital at Nedbank added: “WhereIsMyTransport is a leading provider of sustainable transit solutions in complex urban environments.
“Our investment will support the company’s expansion into key African regions, and we will use our network and our influence on the continent to unlock new corporate partnerships.“