Naspers Invests in Whereismytransport: $14.5M Extension Round

Improving Mobility in Emerging Markets

A significant portion of the population in developing nations relies on informal public transportation for urban travel. Despite the availability of ride-hailing and bus-hailing services in certain cities, a critical need exists for comprehensive journey-planning applications to enhance user mobility and minimize commute times.

WhereIsMyTransport Secures Series A Extension

WhereIsMyTransport, a startup originating in South Africa, is actively addressing this gap. The company has recently announced a $14.5 million Series A extension to facilitate its continued expansion into emerging markets, building upon its existing operations in South Africa and Mexico.

Investment Details

This investment round was co-led by Naspers, through its investment division Naspers Foundry, and the Cathay AfricInvest Innovation Fund. Naspers contributed $3 million to the round, with additional participation from Japan’s SBI Investment.

This funding arrives one year following a $7.5 million Series A investment received by WhereIsMyTransport from various venture capital firms and strategic investors, including Google, Nedbank, and Toyota Tsusho Corporation (TTC).

Company Overview and Mission

Founded in 2015 by Devin de Vries, Chris King, and Dave New, WhereIsMyTransport focuses on mapping both formal and informal public transport networks. The company leverages the collected data to improve the overall public transport experience, prioritizing safety and accessibility for commuters.

Furthermore, WhereIsMyTransport licenses this data to a diverse range of stakeholders, including governments, development finance institutions (DFIs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), operators, and third-party developers.

This data is utilized for research, analytical purposes, generating insights, and developing both consumer-facing and enterprise-level solutions.

CEO Statement

“WhereIsMyTransport initially concentrated its efforts in South Africa, aiming to become the definitive source of accurate and dependable public transport data for rapidly growing markets,” stated CEO Devin de Vries. “We are delighted to welcome Naspers as an investor as we progress in megacities throughout the developing world.”

Expansion and Current Reach

Previously, the company had mapped 34 cities across Africa and was actively mapping networks in India, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. Since then, expansion has included Mexico City in November, alongside data production projects in Lima, Bangkok, Gauteng, and Dhaka.

Currently, WhereIsMyTransport has completed projects in 41 cities spanning 28 countries.

Rumbo: A Consumer-Facing Product

The company launched its first direct-to-consumer product, Rumbo, in Mexico. Rumbo provides comprehensive network information for all modes of public transport, currently serving over 100,000 users who contribute more than 750,000 real-time network alerts.

Plans are underway to launch Rumbo in Lima, Peru, later this year.

Naspers Foundry’s First Mobility Investment

For Naspers Foundry, this investment represents its inaugural foray into the mobility sector. The firm has previously invested in four other South African startups – Aerobotics, SweepSouth, Food Supply Network, and The Student Hub – with a focus on edtech, food, and cleaning services.

Naspers Foundry’s Perspective

Fabian Whate, head of Naspers Foundry, commented, “We recognized a compelling opportunity to support an exceptional South African founder who has successfully grown their business from Cape Town into a global leader in mapping both formal and informal transportation, with a strong emphasis on emerging markets.”

He further explained that there is a natural synergy between mobility and Naspers’ existing investments in food and e-commerce, particularly within emerging markets. “Mobility solutions are often crucial for the success of food and e-commerce businesses operating in these regions, creating a strong alignment with the Naspers Group’s overall vision and WhereIsMyTransport’s objectives.”

Client Base

In South Africa, WhereIsMyTransport’s clients include the Johannesburg commuter rail system, Gautrain, and Transport for Cape Town. Internationally, the company serves clients such as Google, the World Bank, and WSP, among others.

Naspers’ Commitment to South African Innovation

Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa, South Africa CEO of Naspers, stated: “Mobility continues to be a significant challenge for billions of people in high-growth markets worldwide. Our investment in WhereIsMyTransport underscores our belief in the innovative potential and technological talent present in South Africa, and our commitment to supporting businesses that can address local challenges and improve the lives of people both within South Africa and internationally.”