The public transportation sector is seeing changes across the globe, from ride sharing apps to electric buses. Companies are tackling everything from daily commutes to international travel.
Firms range from heavily funded operations like Careem, with $771.7M raised for its Middle East super app, to more focused startups. BasiGo, for instance, is introducing electric buses to Kenya through a pay as you drive model.
Below is our list of 23 Public Transportation startups worth keeping an eye on.
Failory's Top 10 Picks
Tool
Fundraising OS
Everything you need to raise funding for your startup, including 3,500+ investors, 7 tools, 18 templates and 3 learning resources.
Buy It For $97 $297 →Sheet
2,189 Accelerators & Incubators
Information about the industries, countries, and cities they generally invest in.
Get the Sheet for $50Sheet
1,600+ Unicorns
Information about their valuation, HQ's location, founded year, name of founders, funding amount and number of employees.
Get the Sheet for $50Sheet
250 BioTech & Health Investors
List of startup investors in the BioTech, Health, and Medicine industries, along with their Twitter, LinkedIn, and email addresses.
Get the Sheet for $50Sheet
250 AI Investors
List of 250 startup investors in the AI and Machine Learning industries, along with their Twitter, LinkedIn, and email addresses.
Get the Sheet for $50Sheet
250 Fintech Investors
List of 250 startup investors in the FinTech and Finance industries, along with their Twitter, LinkedIn, and email addresses.
Get the Sheet for $50May Mobility develops autonomous driving technology and operates its own fleets of self-driving vehicles for public transportation. Their services are designed to supplement existing transit systems, making transportation safer and more accessible within communities.
| Headquarters | Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States |
| Year Founded | 2017 |
| Founders | Alisyn Malek, Edwin Olson, Steve Vozar |
| Funding Amount | $309.6M |
| Startup Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Corporate Round |
| Top Investors | Y Combinator, SV Angel, Liquid 2 Ventures, Toyota Motor, Palm Drive Capital |
Careem built the go-to "Everything App" for the Middle East, combining services for transportation, food delivery, and payments. Their platform allows users to hail rides, order groceries, and manage finances all from a single application.
| Headquarters | Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
| Year Founded | 2012 |
| Founders | Abdulla Elyas, Magnus Olsson, Mudassir Sheikha |
| Funding Amount | $771.7M |
| Startup Size | Major Organization (1,001-5,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Series F |
| Top Investors | STV, Coatue, Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Rakuten, BECO Capital |
Avelo Airlines operates a budget airline focused on making air travel more affordable and convenient. They achieve this by flying to and from smaller, secondary airports, which helps customers save money and avoid the hassle of major hubs.
| Headquarters | Houston, Texas, United States |
| Year Founded | 2020 |
| Founders | Andrew Levy |
| Funding Amount | $175.2M |
| Startup Size | Major Organization (1,001-5,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Venture Round |
| Top Investors | Morgan Stanley Tactical Value |
BasiGo provides electric buses to public transport operators through a flexible Pay-As-You-Drive model. Their comprehensive service includes the bus, charging infrastructure, and maintenance, designed to help operators easily switch from diesel to electric.
| Headquarters | Nairobi, Nairobi Area, Kenya |
| Year Founded | 2021 |
| Founders | Jit Bhattacharya, Jonathan Green |
| Funding Amount | $63.1M |
| Startup Size | Lean Team (11-50) |
| Last Funding Status | Series A |
| Top Investors | SBI Investment, U.S. International Development Finance Corp, Novastar Ventures, Third Derivative, Moxxie Ventures |
Voi operates a shared micromobility service, offering e-scooters and e-bikes for rent in more than 150 cities. The company provides a sustainable and convenient transportation alternative for urban residents through its mobile app.
| Headquarters | Stockholm, Stockholms Lan, Sweden |
| Year Founded | 2018 |
| Founders | Adam Jafer, Douglas Stark, Fredrik Hjelm, Johan Pietilä Holmner, Keith Richman |
| Funding Amount | $595.3M |
| Startup Size | Major Organization (1,001-5,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Debt Financing |
| Top Investors | Creandum, LocalGlobe, JME Ventures, The Raine Group, Balderton Capital |
GreenCell Mobility offers shared e-mobility solutions designed to make public transportation cleaner and more affordable. They operate a growing fleet of electric buses, providing on-demand and scheduled services for cities.
| Headquarters | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Year Founded | 2019 |
| Founders | Ashok Agarwal |
| Funding Amount | $501.2M |
| Startup Size | Mid-Size Team (51-250) |
| Last Funding Status | Debt Financing |
| Top Investors | International Finance Corporation, Asian Development Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, REC |
The team at Mumbai International Airport Limited operates Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, one of India's busiest hubs for domestic and international travel. This major gateway into the country is recognized for its operational efficiency as one of the world's busiest single-runway airports.
| Headquarters | Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Year Founded | 2006 |
| Founders | — |
| Funding Amount | $750M |
| Startup Size | Major Organization (1,001-5,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Debt Financing |
| Top Investors | BlackRock, Apollo, Standard Chartered Bank, MetLife, FWD Hong Kong |
Buupass developed a digital ticketing platform that allows travelers in Kenya to search, compare, and book bus tickets online. By partnering with a large network of transport operators, they have become the country's market leader for digitizing public transportation.
| Headquarters | Nairobi, Nairobi Area, Kenya |
| Year Founded | 2016 |
| Founders | Iman Cooper, Sonia Kabra, Wyclife Omondi |
| Funding Amount | $2.5M |
| Startup Size | Founding Team (1-10) |
| Last Funding Status | Venture Round |
| Top Investors | Renew Capital, Google for Startups, 54 Collective, Bosch, daba |
Optibus builds an AI-powered SaaS platform for planning and operating public transportation. Their end-to-end software helps transit agencies optimize routes, scheduling, and daily operations to make public transit more efficient and reliable.
| Headquarters | Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel |
| Year Founded | 2014 |
| Founders | Amos Haggiag, Eitan Yanovsky, Gady Shlasky |
| Funding Amount | $260M |
| Startup Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Venture Round |
| Top Investors | Insight Partners, Bessemer Venture Partners, Alibaba Group, Tencent, New Era Capital Partners |
Wayla operates an urban van-pooling service that enhances transportation in cities. Their platform offers shared rides designed to lower environmental impact and improve the daily commute.
| Headquarters | Milan, Lombardia, Italy |
| Year Founded | 2023 |
| Founders | Alessandro Villa, Carlo Bettini, Mario Ferretti, Niccolò Ferrari |
| Funding Amount | €2M |
| Startup Size | Founding Team (1-10) |
| Last Funding Status | Equity Crowdfunding |
| Top Investors | Carrani Tours, Moffu Labs, MobilityUP, Sullivan Ventures, Luca La Mesa |
13 Additional Public Transportation Startups Worth Following
Those top 10 companies are just a small slice of what’s happening in public transportation. Many other founders are building new tools for mobility and logistics, and together they've raised hundreds of millions to grow.
Some are new to the scene, while others are established players with decades of experience. Below is a look at the other startups that are helping to reshape how we travel.