Zeno Secures $25 Million to Accelerate Electric Motorcycle Adoption in East Africa

Zeno has recently completed a $25 million funding round to expand its electric motorcycle production in East Africa. The round was led by Congruent Ventures, contributing $20.5 million, representing 82% of the total. Active Impact and Lower-carbon Ventures also participated, with the remaining $4.5 million coming from debt financing provided by Camber Road and Trifecta Capital.

Zeno is committed to creating a complete electric mobility solution, rather than simply importing or assembling electric vehicles. Its independently developed electric motorcycle system covers vehicle design, replaceable battery packs, and a charging network, forming a full-stack ecosystem from hardware to services. Since its inception, the company has produced over 800 electric motorcycles and deployed more than 150 charging and battery swapping stations in Kenya and Uganda. It is reported that approximately 25,000 individual and fleet customers are currently waiting to receive their vehicles.

Africa has over 30 million fuel-powered motorcycles, making it one of the largest two-wheeled vehicle markets globally. However, traditional fuel vehicles bring high operating costs and severe urban pollution. Zeno's electric solution reduces usage costs by approximately 50% and significantly reduces carbon emissions, providing riders with a more economical and environmentally friendly option. Its flagship product, Emara, can travel approximately 100 kilometers on a single charge and has a maximum load capacity of 250 kilograms (550 lbs). The price without a battery is approximately $1,300, and $2,000 with a battery. The new funds will help the company increase its weekly production to 70 to 80 vehicles to meet the growing market demand.

Previously, Zeno secured a $9.5 million seed round led by Lowercarbon Ventures and Toyota Ventures. This additional capital will be used to expand beyond East Africa, strengthen production capacity, and accelerate the deployment of battery swapping infrastructure, further promoting the sustainable transformation of electric two-wheeled transportation in Africa.