Zeno has secured a $25 million Series A round to accelerate production of its battery-swap motorcycles and expand its charging network.
Zeno has secured a $25 million Series A round to accelerate production of its battery-swap motorcycles and expand its charging network.
The financing includes $20.5 million in equity led by Congruent Ventures with participation from Active Impact and Lowercarbon Capital.
An additional $4.5 million comes through a debt facility arranged by Camber Road and Trifecta Capital. The raise builds on the company’s earlier $9.5 million seed round backed by Lowercarbon and Toyota Ventures.
Since emerging from stealth roughly eighteen months ago, Zeno has produced more than 800 units of its Emara electric motorcycle and deployed over 150 charging locations across four cities in Kenya and Uganda.
The company is now assembling between 70 and 80 bikes weekly, though demand appears to be running ahead of supply. According to the company, more than 25,000 individual riders and fleet operators are waiting to purchase the Emara.
Motorcycles dominate urban mobility across East Africa, particularly in the boda boda sector where drivers transport passengers and goods throughout dense cities and peri-urban communities.
Zeno is positioning its bikes as a cheaper alternative to petrol engines, claiming operating costs that are about half those of internal combustion models.
The Emara travels roughly 100 kilometers on a single charge and can carry loads up to 250 kilograms. Its peak output of eight kilowatts matches the performance of a typical 150cc engine, though the electric drivetrain delivers full torque immediately. That capability is particularly useful on steep urban roads where riders often carry both passengers and cargo.
Pricing reflects a modular approach. The motorcycle sells for around $1,300 without a battery or approximately $2,000 when bundled with one.
Riders who opt out of buying the battery can subscribe to a monthly plan or pay per swap at Zeno’s charging stations. The system allows users to recharge at home or exchange batteries at the company’s network of swap locations.
Zeno is exploring another layer of infrastructure that could expand its reach beyond transport. The company is developing a battery dock designed to power lights and small appliances in homes or businesses.
A small group of early customers is testing prototypes. If commercialized, the device could place Zeno’s battery packs at the center of everyday energy use.
That idea reflects a broader pattern across the region. East Africa’s power networks face reliability gaps, and startups have begun building distributed energy solutions ranging from mini-grids to portable storage systems.
A modular battery platform designed for mobility could extend into household energy, especially in neighborhoods where grid power fluctuates.
Zeno’s leadership draws inspiration from early electric vehicle strategies pursued by Tesla, particularly the notion that transportation and energy systems should develop together.
The company believes emerging markets offer fewer structural barriers for that model, especially where two-wheel transport dominates daily movement.
The company’s progress mirrors a broader shift taking place across the African mobility sector. Electric motorcycles are gaining traction as fuel costs remain volatile and urban pollution becomes harder to ignore.
Investors who once focused heavily on fintech now appear more willing to fund mobility infrastructure that intersects with energy systems.
Zeno’s bet rests on the idea that the electric motorbike is only the entry point. The larger opportunity lies in building a battery network that powers both transport and everyday electricity needs across rapidly growing cities.
This post first appeared on TechCrunch.
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