FreshBus Raises $3.1 Million for Electric Buses Across India

25.08.2023 - 14:08 / skift.com / Justin Dawes

Four travel tech startups raised $121.3 million this week. 

>>Via, which provides operations tech for public and private ground transportation, raised $110 million, valuing the company at $3.5 billion. 

It was led by 83North, with participation from new and existing investors including Exor N.V., Pitango, Janus Henderson, CF Private Equity, Planven Entrepreneur Ventures, Riverpark Ventures, and ION Crossover Partners. 

The Via software platform helps cities and transit agencies plan multi-modal transportation networks and respond to quickly changing needs, using data to optimize performance. The software can work with buses, shuttles, wheelchair accessible vehicles, school buses, autonomous vehicles, and electric vehicles.

The company said it has had a strong year as transit agencies are increasingly looking to digitize and improve efficiency. The company said its annual revenue run rate surpassed $200 million last year, more than doubling since the previous financing round in Nov. 2021. 

Via plans to use the funding toward expanding its product offerings and moving into new geographies and market segments.  

The Via products are used by more than 600 transit networks in more than 35 countries, the company said. Clients include the city of Jersey City, Miami-Dade County, Harvard University, New York University, European chemical company BASF, and more.  

Based in New York City, Via was co-founded in 2012 by CEO Daniel Ramot.

“Via is a rare combination of a company that has a profound impact on the communities it serves while also generating attractive unit economics at scale,” said John Elkann, CEO of Exor N. V., in a statement. “Daniel and his team are building a great company, and as a major shareholder, we are committed to supporting the company in this next stage of growth.” 

>>Transferz has raised $6.9 million (€6.5 million) from a group of business angel investors and family offices. One of the lead investors is Jan Kees de Jager, former minister of finance of the Netherlands. 

The Amsterdam-based startup partners with ground transportation companies to streamline the booking process of private transfer services, mostly to and from airports. The startup’s tech platform integrates into the booking flow of travel brands and provides booking access for travel agents.

Transferz said the investment will allow it to expand globally, including into more ground transportation verticals, and achieve profitability in the months ahead. 

The startup helps companies provide transportation to and more than 750 airports, sea ports, and train stations globally. Transferz recently added shared shuttles to its offerings, and it plans to add offerings such as public transport, parking, and potentially rental