Launched by five Zimbabwean tech entrepreneurs, the service streamlines bus ticket booking for users. The concept came to one of the founders while he was conducting business at a bus station.

Founded in 2017 by Vusumuzi Mkhwananzi, Josiah Mahachi, Millcent Mkhwananzi, Gift Chirinda, and Mandla Ncube, myRunner is a Zimbabwean tech startup with a mission to improve road transport services across Africa. Through its all-in-one web and mobile platforms, the company offers online ticket booking and real-time bus tracking. It also streamlines fleet management for transport companies.

"I grew up selling sweets and freezits in bus station [...] Everyday I saw challenges faced by passengers and bus operators ,passngers harrassed by touts , waiting long hours for buses and bus companies lossing a lot of revenue due to ineffective ticketing and bus managemet systems that where largely manual," explains Vusumuzi Mkhwananzi.

With myRunner, several processes are simplified. Registered travelers, for instance, can purchase tickets online from their chosen bus operator using various digital payment options. They can make selections based on their destination, travel date, and departure time, among other criteria.

Active in several African countries, including Botswana, South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, and Zimbabwe, the startup aims to revolutionize intercity transport in Africa by combining innovation and accessibility. It seeks to accelerate its growth by further developing its features to meet the growing demands of the market.

In July 2024, myRunner was selected alongside 41 other African startups to join the inaugural Timbuktoo Fintech Hub cohort. This initiative, launched by African nations in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), aims to support the development of Africa’s tech ecosystem.

By Adoni Conrad Quenum,

Éditing by Feriol Bewa