During his post-graduate studies in France, he witnessed the success of the ridesharing platform Blablacar and how it helped improve users’ traveling conditions. He later decided to replicate the success in Africa, while taking into account local realities. 

Raynald Ballo (photo) is the founder and CEO of Raynis, a startup based in Abomey-Calavi, Benin. The startup specializes in the development of web solutions and supports clients in their digital transformation. Its founder made a name for himself in the African tech industry in 2021, with the launch of RMobility, a mobility platform. 

RMobility is a ridesharing app that connects drivers who wish to share their empty seats with passengers who want to travel securely and cheaply. Currently, it claims over 10,000 ridesharers in Benin and Togo. 

“... RMobility is first and foremost one of the modern solutions born from the digital revolution in Africa. [...] it helps save money, meet new people and maintain the social bond between members of RCommunauté [note: RMobility users] who are mostly young people,”  Raynald Ballo explains. The tech entrepreneur adds that the solution helps the youth contribute to the reduction of green gas emissions.  

The success of RMobility demonstrates users’ need for affordable mobility solutions. In that light, Raynald replicated the concept in the parcel delivery segment with RColis, a platform that allows the delivery of the RCommunauté’s parcels.  RDigital was also created to develop web and mobile solutions to support clients’ projects.  

Raynald's involvement in the mobility segment is the result of years of professional experience in that segment. He was a parking studies manager for the Urban Forum initiated by Sciences Po Bordeaux, France.  He later worked as a researcher for ITEC Etudes, a consulting firm specializing in transportation and traffic surveys. He was also a mobility and transport project manager for travel agency Prêt à Partir and a parking study engineer for SARECO, a transport and mobility research company.  Currently, he is a Ph.D. student in geography and planning in Nantes, France. 

Melchior Koba