BuuPass, a Kenyan-based travel booking platform, has successfully acquired its competitor QuickBus, which operates in Nigeria and South Africa. The terms of the acquisition, a combination of cash and stock, remain undisclosed as both companies have opted for confidentiality regarding the financial details.
The acquisition is not just a merger of services but also a unification of talent, with QuickBus’s skilled team of developers, product managers, and the head of operations in South Africa set to join the ranks of BuuPass’s management, promising an infusion of fresh ideas and expertise.
This deal marks a significant expansion for BuuPass, which has already established robust partnerships with key financial and telecommunication entities. A notable collaboration includes integrating M-PESA, a leading financial super app, extending BuuPass’s services to its substantial user base of approximately 10 million in Kenya.
BuuPass’s strategic acquisition of QuickBus is poised to enhance its service offerings by leveraging QuickBus’s existing integrations with major distribution channels in Nigeria and South Africa, including Vodaphone’s VodaPay app. The transition will see a rebranding effort as QuickBus’s identity within these integrations will be replaced by BuuPass, streamlining the travel booking experience for users across the platforms.
The synergy between BuuPass and QuickBus combines their respective strengths, setting the stage for BuuPass’s ambitious expansion plans. Having secured $1.3 million in funding in 2023, BuuPass is now poised to tap into the South African and Nigerian markets, a move expected to surge its active monthly users to an impressive 650,000.
QuickBus, a pioneer in the Kenyan travel booking sector since 2017 and receiving over $1 million in seed funding in 2020, will see its innovative offerings, such as the Cash Advance feature, reach new heights under the new ownership.
Since its inception in 2016, BuuPass has made remarkable strides, selling over 6 million travel tickets and generating upwards of $100 million in ticket sales. The platform boasts extensive coverage of national and cross-border routes in East and Southern Africa, serving a customer base of over 16 million passengers.
The integration process is set to introduce various travel options previously limited in the Kenyan market, including train and flight bookings. Effective immediately, BuuPass users will gain access to international routes spanning 16 African countries, with major routes like Johannesburg to Cape Town and Durban to Cape Town already available, and more additions anticipated by the end of the second quarter.
This acquisition is a testament to BuuPass’s commitment to enhancing connectivity and travel convenience across Africa, further solidifying its position as a leader in the travel booking industry on the continent.
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