Zeelo, a “smart bus” business that received $14 million last year to expand, purchased a tiny U.K. startup that integrated a school bus service with a software platform to protect students.
Born in the U.K. in 2010, Kura obtained £3.8 million in private equity from Souter Investments to provide a protected digital platform for school and college bus transportation, staff shuttles, and charter transport services.
Zeelo’s purchase for an unknown price would provide the platform with 220 clients, 450 operator partners, and 40,000 daily rides, the business says.
Since its 2016 inception, Zeelo has received $33.6 million, including a $14 Series A extension last year. Zeelo says their “smart bus” routing system optimizes bus programs, saving clients up to 43% and increasing ridership by 50%.
It wanted to increase U.S. sales and operations and improve its technological platform. It barely averted a disastrous purchase by SPAC-backed Swvl and tech stock market turbulence.
In a statement, Zeelo co-founder and CEO Sam Ryan hinted at “a pipeline of M&A opportunities across” the U.K. and U.S. markets but did not disclose the transaction price.
