South African public transport data and technology startup, WhereIsMyTransport has secured funding worth $1.85 million and expanded its footprints by adding the first Indian, Southeast Asian and Latin American cities to its platform. The startup, which secured two funding rounds back in 2017, has now announced an investment of US$1.85 million, led by Liil Ventures and including existing investor Goodwell Investments, as part of its Series A funding round.
This investment has been secured as WhereIsMyTransport expands its digital mapping of formal and informal public transport networks into new emerging markets, including its first data collection projects in India and Latin America. Data for more than 30 major cities in emerging markets is now available on its integrated mobility data platform – an open API for mobility data and commuter services.
With expansion into the Latin American market, the company wrapped up 2018 with its biggest data collection project to date; collecting the world’s most complete dataset for integrated formal and informal public transport in the Mexico City metropolitan area.
Series A Investment
Returning investor, Goodwell Investments joins Liil Ventures, a Corporate Venture Capital fund in the mobility sector.
“We are delighted to welcome Liil Ventures to our global team, alongside trusted partner Goodwell Investments. Liil is an investor experienced in our sector and a loud advocate for our market-leading technology,” said Devin de Vries, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of WhereIsMyTransport while speaking about the funding round.
“Not only are we strategically aligned, but Liil also brings significant go-to-market value in the Latin American market, and a complementary portfolio including Cabify and What3Words.”
According to Nadim Matuk Villazón, Investment Principal/Managing Team at Liil Ventures, “Poor mobility in emerging markets is a huge social issue that has been overlooked for years.” Villazón added that WhereIsMyTransport’s data and technology has a direct and sustainable positive impact on the livelihood of hundreds of millions of excluded households in these markets.
“WhereIsMyTransport and its solutions are perfectly aligned with our investment strategy, and we are thrilled to continue to support the company and its mission for social change,” Wim van der Beek, Founder & Managing Partner at Goodwell Investments added.
Award-Winning Innovation
In recognition of its achievements in Africa and further afield, WhereIsMyTransport recently received an award for Innovation and Service Transformation from the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) and an award for Outstanding Achievement in Transport Innovation from the Intelligent Transport Society. The award for Outstanding Achievement, from the Intelligent Transport Society (ITS), is given to transport organisations improving operational efficiency, reducing carbon emissions and making transport systems more accessible. ITS is an organisation with a strategic aim in promoting the deployment of technology-driven transport solutions into Government. They work with the private and public sector to facilitate the creation of smart mobility solutions.
The award for Innovation and Service Transformation recognises startups that have used technology to improve the public transport service delivery to citizens. SITA is an organisation that leverages Information Technology as a strategic resource for government, managing the IT procurement and delivery process to ensure that the South African government gets value for money, increased productivity; qualitative solutions, services and products.
About the startup
Formed in 2016, WhereIsMyTransport offers integrated data solutions for formal and informally run transport in cities across South Africa, connects and collects data in emerging cities, integrating this information on its open data platform.
Its products are then used by cities to coordinate and monitor services, operators to integrate their systems and optimise service, and passengers who access the platform through apps and endpoints connected to the WhereIsMyTransport platform.
