BuuPass, a Kenyan digital bus ticketing startup, has acquired its Nigerian and South African-based competitor QuickBus for an undisclosed amount in cash and stock.
As part of the deal, QuickBus’s developers, product managers, and its head of operations in South Africa will join BuuPass’s management team.
Founded in 2016 by Wycliffe Omondi and Sonia Kabra, the company initially operated as Magic Bus Ticketing before its rebranding. It works by providing bus companies with a bus management system where they are able to control their fleet, sales, and inventory. It then connects them with a marketplace where passengers can book tickets and compare the prices of different bus operators via a mobile app, website, and USSD.
In August last year, the firm celebrated a milestone by selling over 10 million tickets through its platform. It claims to process nearly 12,000 transactions per day across its booking channels and has a fleet of 1,200 vehicles under its management, engaged by 25 bus companies. The platform “covers national and cross-border routes in East and Southern Africa and has served over 16 million passengers,” according to the company.
Earlier this year, the startup secured a substantial investment from Silicon Valley icon Tim Draper during its participation in the reality TV show "Meet the Drapers," following a successful $1.3 million pre-seed investment in 2023 to expand its transport solutions across East Africa.
QuickBus, on the other hand, was first launched in Kenya in 2017, raising over $1 million in a 2020 seed round. New ownership will see it expand interesting products and features like its Cash Advance.
The acquisition will expand BuuPass’s partnerships with banks and telcos that offer multiple services, such as API integration features. For instance, BuuPass partnered with the M-PESA app, a financial super app, to provide its booking services to around 10 million Kenyans who use the mobile money app. It will also enable BuuPass to expand into more African markets and now have free access to South Africa and Nigeria. Those new markets will push its active monthly users to 650,000.
“Quickbus gives BuuPass access to existing integration with major distribution channels in Nigeria and South Africa, such as Vodaphone’s VodaPay app in South Africa,” the startup said.
BuuPass will then replace QuickBus branding within existing integrations like VodaPay. Nigerian and South African users will also find BuuPass as their travel booking option across various platforms.
The integration processes will entail rolling out additional travel options, such as train and flight bookings, which have been limited in BuuPass’s Kenyan market.
“Starting today, BuuPass users can access international routes across 16 African countries, including Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Malawi, Nigeria, and Ghana. Major routes, such as Johannesburg to Cape Town and Durban to Capetown, can be found on the platform today, with more to be added by the end of Q2,” BuuPass added.
