Kenya’s BuuPass Acquires QuickBus

Kenyan mobility start-up, BuuPass has announced its acquisition of QuickBus, a player in the bus ticketing sector, with plans to expand into Nigeria and South Africa markets.

Established in 2016, BuuPass operates as a B2B2C mobility marketplace, offering users the ability to search, compare, and book travel tickets through its website, the Buupass app (available on Apple and Android), and a USSD system accessible on any mobile phone.

Eunice Wambui, Investment Principal at Founders Factory Africa, a key investor in BuuPass, said, “As an early investor and backer, Founders Factory Africa is proud to see BuuPass expand to Nigeria and South Africa. BuuPass is already changing the daily lives of its customers as it moves closer to fulfilling its vision of being a pan-African travel booking platform.”

Over the years, the start-up has sold over six million travel tickets and generated over $100 million in total value of goods sold. BuuPass has also participated in prestigious programmes like Google for Start-ups Accelerator Africa and has received backing from the Google for Start-ups Black Founders Fund. On the other hand, QuickBus, founded in 2018, simplifies long-distance travel by aggregating bus tickets in a user-friendly marketplace. This platform empowers users to compare prices and book journeys effortlessly while streamlining operations for bus companies.

The acquisition will enable BuuPass to enter South Africa and Nigeria, adding more than 5,000 new routes to its platform and enhancing its services for African consumers. Additionally, BuuPass will onboard over 100 bus operators and key online distribution platforms such as FNB, Vodacom, and MTN.

Sonia Kabra, Co-founder of BuuPass, commented about the acquisition, stating, “We are excited to expand our footprint in Africa as we actively look for more opportunities to bring our platform to new African markets. BuuPass aims to create a comprehensive, continent-wide network of interconnected transport options for seamless global and continental travel, and this acquisition is a significant milestone toward that goal.”

Through this acquisition, BuuPass enters new markets and expands its active monthly user base. QuickBus’ presence in Nigeria and South Africa paves the way for increased market penetration and growth opportunities for BuuPass throughout Africa.