To secure transport routes and payments in African cities, two tech entrepreneurs have launched a multi-functional mobile platform for shared taxis, minibuses, and other transportation services.

Loop, an e-mobility solution created by a South African startup, is enabling informal taxi drivers and collective transport operators – particularly the minibuses and shared taxis prevalent across sub-Saharan Africa – to digitize their services. The Cape Town-based startup was founded in 2022 by Imtiyaaz Riley and Jamie Wyngaard.

“In a nutshell, the platform brings real-time logistics, financial inclusion, and operational efficiency to markets still heavily reliant on cash and manual coordination," said Imtiyaaz Riley.

Loop allows drivers to log their trips, monitor their finances in real time, and accept digital payments. Passengers, in turn, gain from improved tracking and a secure, cashless payment system. "We earn revenue from ride fares and payment transaction fees. In 2024, we generated over US$1.3 million in revenue," Riley added.

Beyond its core service, Loop also provides a formalization tool. By gathering data on transport patterns and travel behaviors, the platform assists local authorities and private partners in gaining a clearer understanding of urban mobility dynamics and enhancing their offerings. Currently operating in Johannesburg as well, the company has ambitions to expand into other countries within sub-Saharan Africa.

By merging smart mobility, integrated payments, and digital inclusion, Loop offers a versatile tool to help structure transport ecosystems that frequently operate outside formal regulatory frameworks.

By Adoni Conrad Quenum,

Editing by Feriol Bewa