Caption for image: “Arc Ride’s battery-swapping station in Nairobi — a key part of its clean mobility infrastructure now set for regional expansion.”
Kenyan electric mobility startup Arc Ride has secured a $5 million equity commitment from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), exhibiting a major milestone in its move to scale across East Africa. The investment, which is a part of Arc Ride’s upcoming Series A round, will support the expansion of its battery-as-a-service (BaaS) model and infrastructure for electric two-wheelers.
Nairobi-based Arc Ride has become well-known for its battery-swapping stations and electric motorcycle rental business model, which reduces entry costs for both logistics operators and riders. The IFC's support corresponds with its larger plan to finance environmentally friendly solutions in emerging economies and highlights the rising institutional trust in Kenya's e-mobility industry.
The IFC's $5 million pledge, or approximately KSh 645 million is set to help Arc Ride expand its network and service capacity in Kenya and set the stage for future regional growth into nations like Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Arc Ride’s CEO, Joseph Hurst-Croft, emphasized the strategic value of the partnership: “This investment validates our mission to make clean transport accessible and affordable across Africa. With IFC’s support, we’re ready to scale our impact.”
The funding journey of Arc Ride is part of a larger pattern in which global financial institutions are helping Africa in its transition to cleaner ways of transportation. British International Investment (BII) of the United Kingdom gave the business $5 million in loan funding at the beginning of 2025. In late 2025, Mirova, a sustainable investor located in Paris, gave the company a $10 million facility to expand battery-swapping infrastructure in Kenya.
The International Finance Corporation's participation could greatly reduce Arc Ride's risk for potential investors, boosting faith in the possibility of sustainable mobility companies throughout the continent. The technology sector is at a critical moment as Kenya pursues its national e-mobility policy objectives and competing businesses enter the market. Institutional funding is now supporting not only pilots but also scalable, market-ready solutions.