UAE-based Shorooq Partners has led the seed funding round for Kenya-based online marketplace ticketing system QuickBus. Shrooq Partners was also joined by a number of other investors including EchoVC and the Oman Technology Fund (OTF). The size of the investment has not been disclosed.  

QuickBus allows users to see reviews for different buses in Africa and book their seats online through its mobile application. 

“When you book a bus, you should know more than the price and the destination, you should also know more about the experience you’re going to have. That’s how it is in other parts of the world and Africa shouldn’t be any different,” said Humphrey Wrey, founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of QuickBus. 

The startup currently operates in Kenya, Uganda, and Angola. It has also secured partnerships in a further seven major markets across the continent and is aiming to cover most of the sub-Saharan Africa region within three years. 

 “Having grown up and operated businesses in the region I have experienced first-hand that the opportunity in the long-distance mobility space in Africa is massive and having seen this segment disrupted in other emerging markets we were actively studying the East African market to see who was leading the way. This is when we met QuickBus and its strong management team, which made us firm believers in their ability to execute and dominate this space,” said Kunal Savjani Partner at Shorooq Partners.