India’s leading public transport technology company, Chalo, today announced that it has raised US$45 million as Series D funding. This round is led by incoming investors Avataar Ventures, along with existing investors Lightrock India, WaterBridge Ventures, and Amit Singhal (former Senior VP and Head of Google Search).
Chalo also announced an additional $12 Mn secured in venture debt from Trifecta and Stride Ventures. This takes the total funds raised by Chalo to US$119 million so far.
Mohit Dubey, CEO, Chalo, said “In the last two years, our capabilities have grown significantly. We have strengthened our core business of city buses, and now offer a multi-modal public transport network solution to cities, encompassing city buses, premium buses, and first and last mile connectivity. This is a large step forward in our journey to make everyday travel better for everyone.” He added, “Our tech stack is globally relevant, and can help improve the public transport experience in cities around the world.”
Chalo is a tech platform built to improve the consumer experience in city buses and make buses more reliable. With a better and more reliable experience, bus ridership increases. The Chalo App is India’s #1 bus app where passengers can live track their bus and see its live arrival time, thereby eliminating waiting time at bus stops. They can also see how crowded the bus is and buy a ticket or a bus pass via the app.
The Chalo Card, available both as an NCMC and a bus card, is India’s #1 bus card. It enables digital bus tickets for those who are not comfortable using their smartphones for payments.
For bus operators, Chalo has built the complete tech stack to digitise bus operations and offer a digital bus experience. Chalo offers a dedicated mobile app for operators with which they can monitor their buses live, as well as a digital tickets platform that enables mobile, card, and cash tickets in buses. Operators benefit with increased revenue. Digital transactions also reduce cash pilferage.
Chalo is operational in 51 cities live-tracking 15,000 buses in India (Mumbai, Chennai, and several other cities) and select international markets, with a proven record of increasing bus ridership by up to 50% in the first year of implementation itself. Chalo also runs premium office commute buses in Delhi and Kolkata under the brand name Shuttl; and has a fleet of e-bikes for first and last mile connectivity under the brand name Vogo. Recently, Chalo also partnered with BEST in Mumbai to launch the Chalo Bus, an all day long premium AC bus service, where passengers can reserve their seats in advance on the Chalo App.
In the next phase of its growth, Chalo plans to focus on increasing sustainable e-vehicles on the road – both buses and e-bikes, and further enhancing its tech capabilities towards 100% digitisation of buses. The firm also plans to expand its presence in international markets after its successful entry into South-East Asia.
Chalo is a bus transport technology company that provides live bus tracking services and contactless payment solutions to transform everyday bus travel into a safer and more reliable experience.
Weekly Startup Funding News Report For 25 October - 29 October 2024 (Latest Updates)
Weekly Funding Roundup - We compile a Weekly Startups Funding News Report summarizing all the startups that secured funding during the week. This report provides a consolidated list of newly funded ventures daywise.
Weekly Funding Roundup - We compile a weekly startups funding news report summarizing all the startups that secured funding during the week. This report provides a consolidated list of these newly funded ventures day-wise, offering a concise overview of the latest developments in the startup funding landscape. Get allIndian statups news at Viestoires.
Weekly Startups Funding News [25 October 2024 - 29 October 2024]
Althion Funding News - Althion has Secured Rs 3.6 crore in Pre-Series A Round Funding
Trisu Funding News - A pre-seed funding round, which was co-led by All In Capital, has secured an undisclosed quantity of investment for the vermeil jewelry brand Trisu.
GameEon Funding News - GameEon, a game development studio, has raised $1 million in its most recent funding round, which was co-led by SucSEED Indovation Fund, ICE VC, IAN, CD EQUIFINANCE, Nexus Global Opportunities Fund, Vivek Goel, Patni Family, Tal64.
Wundrsight Funding News - Wundrsight, a digital therapeutics startup, has secured $400K in its seed round, which was led by Inflection Point Ventures. Social Alpha, in conjunction with other angel investors, has also participated in the round.
Dharaksha Ecosolutions Funding News - Dharaksha Ecosolutions, a biotech-driven R&D start-up, has secured Rs 24.8 crore (approximately $2.95 million) in a Seed funding round sponsored by Avaana Capital.
Omnivore Funding News - Omnivore’s third fund, the Omnivore Agritech and Climate Sustainability Fund, received $5 million in investment from Proparco, a subsidiary of the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) Group.
Futwork Funding News - In its Series A round, which was led by the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and included Artha Ventures, Simile Capital, and other investors, sales outreach platform Futwork has raised Rs 20.9 crore, about $2.5 million.
Centricity Funding News - In a seed round, Lightspeed and returning investors Burman Family Office and Shantanu Agarwal, among others, led the investment in wealth management startup Centricity, which raised $20 million at a valuation of $125 million.
11 September 2024 - Funding News
Zivy Funding News - Zivy, an AI tool that prioritizes workplace messages and duties, has secured $1.2 million in a pre-seed funding round co-led by Blume Ventures, Paradigm Shift Capital, iSeed, Everywhere Ventures, Indian Silicon Valley, and Marsshot Ventures.
Mitra Funding News - A strategic family office based in Dubai and Bestvantage Investments led the Pre-Series A fundraising round for D2C FMCG firm Mitra, which raised INR 11 Cr ($1.3 Mn).
InMobi Funding News - MARS Growth Capital, a joint venture between MUFG and Liquidity Group, has provided $100 million in debt financing to InMobi, a provider of mobile advertising network software.
Track3D Funding News - Track3D, an AI reality intelligence platform for the construction industry, announced that it had secured $4.3 million in seed funding. The funding was led by Endiya Partners, with participation from Shadow Ventures and Monta Vista Capital.
Flexiloans Funding News - In an equity funding round led by American not-for-profit fund Accion, US asset management firm Nuveen, and Nandan Nilekani-backed venture fund Fundamentum, Mumbai-based digital lending startup Flexiloans has secured Rs 290 crore (approximately $35 million).
10 September 2024 - Funding News
Crackle Technologies Funding News - Crackle Technologies, an adtech startup, has secured $1.7 million (approximately INR 14 crore) in a pre-seed funding round that was jointly headed by We Founder Circle and AC Ventures.
Nestasia Funding News - Nestasia, a lifestyle and home décor brand, secured $8.35 million in a new funding round from Susquehanna Asia VC, Stellaris Venture Partners, and angel investors.
Supersquad Funding News - Supersquad, a startup that specializes in creator monetization, has secured Rs 2.1 crore in a funding round that was spearheaded by WLDD. Nitin Rajput and Jivraj Singh Sachar, angel investors, also contributed to the round.
AppsForBharat Funding News - AppsForBharat, the parent company of the devotional app Sri Mandir, has secured $17.8 million in its Series B funding round, which was led by Fundamentum.
Arnya Real Estate Funding News - Arnya Realestates Fund Advisors, an alternative investment management firm, has successfully closed the first close of its Rs 1,000-crore maiden debt fund, raising Rs 375 crore.
9 September 2024 - Funding News
Transcell Biologics Funding News - Quantiphi and IAN Group, both of Boston, have invested an undisclosed sum in Transcell Biologics, a biotechnology company.
2 September 2024 Monday - Latest Funding News in India
Mintifi Funding News- Mintifi a B2B digital lending startup, is reportedly in discussions to secure $100 million in a new funding round.
Clean Electric Funding News - Clean Electric, an energy storage solutions startup, has secured Rs 48.5 crore (approximately $6 million) in funding from both new and existing investors.
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