Kenyan mobility technology company BuuPass has been ranked among the Top 3 finalists at the Startup World Cup 2025 Grand Finale in San Francisco. This makes BuuPass the first African startup to achieve this. The event brought together more than 90 regional winners from around the globe, competing for a $1 million investment prize. BuuPass secured the No. 3 global position.
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This year’s grand finale was a milestone moment for Africa’s innovation ecosystem. Startups from Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, and the Democratic Republic of Congo took part, with BuuPass (Kenya) and Vital Audio (Tanzania) reaching the global Top 10.
“Our vision is simple, to make travel seamless and power the next billion journeys across Africa and the world’s fastest-growing markets,” said Sonia Kabra, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of BuuPass. “Being on this stage with global disruptors is proof that Africa’s startup ecosystems are ready to compete and win on the world stage.”
BuuPass digitizes transport operations across Africa by enabling passengers to book bus and train tickets online and via mobile. The company has facilitated over 25 million trips, achieved an annualized revenue run rate of $5 million and recently acquired QuickBus to expand its market reach.
Global Validation
The Startup World Cup judging panel was made up of global venture heavyweights from Samsung, Andreessen Horowitz, Khosla Ventures, Norwest Venture Partners and Salesforce Ventures. Their recognition of BuuPass represents not just a company milestone but a broader validation of Africa’s ability to produce scalable, globally relevant technologies.
“Africa showcased solutions from AI, waste management to space technologies, proving we can innovate and solve problems in any industry,” said Geoffrey Kiboneka, a Silicon Valley-based investor at Benue Capital.
Silicon Xchange coordinated Kenya’s participation in collaboration with the Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA). Silicon Xchange is the official Kenya partner for the Startup World Cup. The journey began at the Kenya Startup Festival held in June 2025, which featured investors from Antler, Future Africa, and NaiBAN.
“This partnership is part of KeNIA’s broader strategy to reimagine how the government supports startups, moving beyond policy into direct action,” said Dr. Tonny Omwansa, CEO of KeNIA. “BuuPass’s No. 3 finish proves that when the ecosystem aligns, Kenyan innovation can set the global standard.”
According to Ashley Njoroge, Founder and CEO of Silicon Xchange, the achievement represents a collective win for the continent.
“Moments like this don’t happen in isolation. They’re the result of ecosystems that are starting to collaborate, policymakers, investors, founders, all aligned to ensure African innovation gets the global recognition it deserves.”
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Also Read: 20 Startups Selected as Semi-Finalists in the MEST Africa Challenge 2025
