Disrupting the bus ticketing market – Rwanda’s Tega

Rwandan startup Tega is looking to disrupt the bus ticketing market, by leveraging mobile – smartphones and feature phones alike – , and mobile money, to make the process accessible, efficient, and affordable.

“Currently, people have to travel often long distances to purchase bus tickets only to find out that the bus is full, meaning they have to pay for overnight accommodation and transport expenses. This is not only an inconvenience but a significant financial burden for many travellers in emerging markets,” Tega founder Fiacre Mushimire says.

“Lots of money and time is wasted queuing and travelling to purchase bus tickets which is a significant burden to lower income consumers.”

Tega’s mission is to make bus ticketing more affordable, accessible and efficient, particularly for low income customers, by making bus ticket purchasing available via mobile devices, ahead of time, paid for via mobile money.

The startup is also improving efficiencies for bus operators, allowing them to gauge demand for each bus service and adjust their schedules and pricing accordingly.

Importantly, Tega is catering to consumers spanning all levels of connectivity.

“Tega has two mobile platforms, an app for smart phones and a USSD application for feature phones. For consumers without access to mobile phones, tickets can also be purchased at village agents in a way similar to purchasing airtime,” Mushimire explains.

The startup launched in 2014 with MTN’s mobile money integrated, and soon had seven Rwandan bus companies onboarded – and the company was receiving requests from bus operators in other countries.  

However, Mushimire is currently fundraising, as he hopes to relaunch the startup with a better platform, and the ability to integrate all mobile money wallets, as well a bank transfers.

Mushimire is already thinking ahead.  Following the relaunch, he has plans to scale to other countries in the region, and then expand to Southern and West Africa.

Disrupt Africa reported Tega was recently ranked in second place at the Rwandan leg of global pitching competition Seedstars World.