India bus-tracking app Chalo raises $40m

Filter was set up in 2018 by Nitin Nayer, formerly of Warburg Pincus, and Sumit Sinha, who previously led the technology investment practice at Multiples Alternate Asset Management. Lightrock, formerly LGT Lightstone Aspada, is a UK-based investor focused on sustainability. It launched its India business in 2011.

Chalo brands itself as India’s leading bus transportation technology company and a one-stop service provider for hassle-free travel. The offering includes a free app for live tracking busses and accessing the ticketing platform, and a tap-to-pay Chalo Card, which can be used to store tickets and pay fares upon boarding.

There is also a mobile QR code bus bass function that is compatible with various digital wallets and the government’s cashless united payment interface infrastructure. The service is available in English in 21 cities. There are plans to expand this footprint.

“Buses are India’s number-one form of public transport with 48% share of trips. Despite this, the experience is broken. At Chalo, we deploy technology that significantly improves the bus experience, and thereby increases ridership,” the company said in a social media post. “We are today one of India’s largest mobility companies, with 20 million happy rides each month.”

The Series C is said to include backing from high net worth individuals such as former executives of WhatsApp and Google. Previous funding includes a $7.2 million round in 2019 from Shunwei Capital and Xiaomi. WaterBridge, AdvantEdge Partners, and Trifecta Capital made an investment of undisclosed size earlier the same year.

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• Topics
• South Asia
• Consumer
• Early-stage
• India
• Waterbridge Ventures
• Filter Capital
• Transportation