Electric mobility startup Zeno has raised $25 million in Series A funding as it seeks to expand its battery-swapping network and increase production of its Emara electric motorbikes across East Africa.
The funding round includes about $20.5 million in equity led by Congruent Ventures, with participation from Active Impact and Lowercarbon Ventures, according to the company. The remaining $4.5 million comes from a debt facility provided by Camber Road and Trifecta Capital.
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Zeno co-founder and chief executive Michael Spencer said the capital will help the company scale production and meet growing demand for its electric motorcycles.
Since emerging from stealth roughly 18 months ago, the startup has produced more than 800 Emara motorbikes and established over 150 charging locations across four cities in Kenya and Uganda.
Motorbikes play a central role in transportation across East Africa, particularly for commercial riders such as bodaboda operators who transport passengers and goods. Zeno said its electric bikes offer operating costs roughly 50% lower than comparable internal combustion motorcycles.
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The company said more than 25,000 retail and fleet customers are currently waiting for deliveries of the Emara model. Zeno is producing between 70 and 80 motorbikes per week.
The Emara electric motorcycle can travel about 100 kilometres on a single charge and carry loads of up to 250 kilograms, according to the company. The bike delivers peak power of 8 kilowatts — similar to a 150 cc petrol motorcycle — while offering instant torque that helps it climb steep hills even when fully loaded.
The motorcycle is priced at about $1,300 without a battery or roughly $2,000 with one included. Customers who opt not to purchase the battery can subscribe to a monthly or pay-per-use battery plan and recharge at home or through the company’s network of swap stations.
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Zeno is also developing additional products to support its energy ecosystem, including a battery dock that can power lights and household appliances. The device is currently in the prototype stage, with around a dozen customers testing the system.
Spencer said the concept was partly inspired by his previous experience working at Tesla and its early strategy of integrating electric vehicles with clean energy solutions. The approach, he said, could be particularly suited to emerging markets.
“The idea has more legs and more room to run with lower hurdles in emerging markets,” Spencer said.
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If successfully commercialised, the battery dock could strengthen Zeno’s position in East Africa’s evolving power infrastructure. Parts of the region still face unreliable electricity networks, prompting the growth of decentralised energy systems such as microgrids and modular battery solutions.