Ex-WhatsApp, Google execs join $7m round for Indian public transport startup

Chalo, an India-based public transport technology company, announced that it has raised US$7 million in its latest round of funding.

The Chalo founding team (from left): Vinayak Bhavnani, Priya Singh, Mohit Dubey, and Dhruv Chopra / Photo credit: Chalo

The round was backed by existing investors including early-stage fund Raine Ventures, former WhatsApp chief business officer Neeraj Arora, and Amit Singhal, former senior vice president of Google Search. The family offices of Saket Burman of Dabur and Tarun Sawhney of the Triveni Group also participated in the round.

Launched in 2014, Chalo offers live bus tracking and also a live passenger indicator that shows how crowded a bus is in real-time. Passengers can also buy mobile tickets and bus passes on the app, or choose to scan QR codes in buses to pay digitally for their tickets. It also offers pre-paid wallet and travel pass services.

Funds raised from the financing round will be used for expanding the Mumbai-based startup’s network into multiple cities in India, as well as increasing the penetration of digital tickets technology in its existing cities, Chalo said in a statement. The company has raised US$30 million to date.

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“Buses are not just the most affordable means to commute, they are fundamental for the cities’ economies and revival,” said Mohit Dubey, CEO of Chalo.

Revenue in the bus segment in India is expected to reach US$821 million in 2021, according to data by Statista.