On the 16th of September 2019, Plentywaka, set out officially to revolutionize public transportation and bring comfort and safety to riders in Nigeria using digital technology. We launched officially with just 8 staff, 25 Buses, 25 pilots, and vehicle assistants with our first route running from CMS to Abraham Adesanya and CMS in Lagos, Nigeria. It’s one year after and we’ve got a better story to share.
Today, Plentywaka is marking its first year in operation with 190,000+ completed trips, 40,000+ riders, 44,000+ app downloads, 60 partners, 100 pilots, and vehicle assistants, operating across Lagos and Abuja. Our mobile app is constantly been improved on and has grown from its first version now to Version 2.0.23.
Plentywaka has also raised $300,000 pre-seed funding led by EMFATO, Micro Traction, and Niche Capital to continue the mission of transforming the Nigerian transportation industry with improved mapping technology and will usher in our expansion to many other states. We have quickly become the first choice for riders seeking convenience, comfort, and safety while moving from one place to another.
The e-hailing service, which launched in Lagos before its recent expansion into Abuja in August 2020, has found success with the use of technology to solve the challenges of travel for the everyday commuter. Available on Google Play and iOS, the Plentywaka app has simplified movement from point A to B with just a two-step process to schedule a journey and book a seat as well as the option to pay for rides using the Wakapurse e-wallet.
As a direct response to the safety measures and restrictive movement in Nigeria due to COVID-19, we also launched two products on our platform. In May, the Plentywaka Staff Bus Solutions, an exclusive service for corporate companies to minimize employees’ risk of exposure to the virus post-lockdown was launched and so far, we have seen staff in organizations registered on our platform move safely and in style to and back from work.
While observing the lockdown due to COVID 19, we also saw the need to provide a safer, easier, and quicker means of moving parcels from one location to another for Lagosians. This gave birth to Logistics By Plentywaka, a business-to-consumer delivery service that provides its customers with same-day delivery service and aggregation of logistics vehicles for partners.
Speaking about the success of our first year, the President and Co-Founder of Plentywaka, Johnny Enagwolor said, “Since we launched a year ago, we have achieved remarkable milestones and have been able to adapt when faced with unprecedented challenges the 2020 pandemic brought. Resuming our operations after several weeks of suspension after the lockdown in Nigeria, and digging deep to expand and grow is something I am very proud of my team for achieving. Today, it’s great to be in a position to say that we are one year into our mission to transform transport in Nigeria with technology and make reliable, clean, and safe travel accessible to everyone. Looking to the year ahead, our goal is to continue to improve the riders’ experience, increase productivity in Nigeria with efficient transportation, and create more jobs and income opportunities through our Plentywaka Vehicle Partnership scheme.”
We couldn’t have done all of this without you our amazing riders. You are the heart of our business and we appreciate your patronage and support.
In addition to the surprise free rides we gave to all our riders in Lagos and Abuja till 12 noon today, we have N100,000 for grabs, but first, you have to join the #MyPlentyWaka challenge. All you have to do is post a funny video/picture from your daily waka around town and tag us using the hashtag, #MyPlentywaka challenge.
Plentywaka continues to add more vehicle partners who are earning between N80,000 and N150,000 weekly by onboarding their vehicles on it’s platform. The startup is looking to work with individuals, corporates, and state governments to expand its technology and fleet to provide better transportation services. Registering a vehicle on Plentywaka continues to provide an opportunity to earn extra income, whilst also playing a role in advancing Nigeria’s transport system. To sign up, visit the website via www.plentywaka.com/partner, fill in your contact details, and select your preferred partnership option.
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