Zeno raises $25M to accelerate development of battery-powered motorcycles

The EV transition may be difficult in the US, but it’s not slowing down in East Africa, where several startups are vying for a share of the growing electric motorcycle market.

Zeno is one of those companies, and this week it announced a $25 million Series A to expand its software-controlled battery replacement network and roll out more Emara motorcycles.

About $20.5 million of that total was in fundraising, Zeno co-founder and CEO Michael Spencer told TechCrunch. It was led by Congruent Ventures with participation from Active Impact and Lowercarbon Ventures. The remaining $4.5 million is a loan from Camber Road and Trifecta Capital.

Zeno previously raised a $9.5 million seed round led by Lowercarbon Ventures and Toyota Ventures.

Starting coming out of theft a year and a half agoZeno has built more than 800 Emara motorcycles and established 150 manufacturing facilities in four countries in East Africa.

Motorcycles are the cornerstone of transportation in the region, and Zeno is betting that they can attract riders by offering 50% lower operating costs than internal combustion motorcycles. The company said more than 25,000 retail and fleet customers are waiting to receive Emara, and it is producing 70 to 80 bikes a week. The new cycle will be used to achieve the desired results.

Emara can drive about 100 kilometers (60 miles) on a single charge and can carry 250 kilograms (550 pounds), Zeno says. The bike sells for about $1,300 without the battery, and about $2,000 with it.

The bike delivers 8 kilowatts of power, which is equivalent to a 150 cc internal combustion engine, but because all of its torque is available at standstill, it can climb steep hills – an advantage for boda boda workers, who often transport people and goods on bicycles.

Customers who leave a battery at checkout can sign up for a monthly or installment plan. They can charge the bike at home or at one of Zeno’s charging points.

Similar to Slate Auto in the USZeno sells a variety of accessories and covers to help customers customize their ride.

To sweeten the deal, Zeno also plans to offer a battery port that homes and businesses can use to power their lights and appliances. The port is currently being filmed, Spencer said, and about a dozen customers are testing the product.

If the Zeno can sell the battery port, it can plug itself into the local power supply. Most of the electricity grids in East Africa are failing, which has given companies the opportunity to supply more electricity. Others are helping creating mini- and microgridswhile others like Zeno are betting that portable, modular batteries will find a permanent niche.

When Spencer re-founded the company, he was inspired by his former employer, Tesla, and his original plan, which sought to put EVs and clean energy on the scale. An idea, he he told me in 2024“they have more legs and more room to run with fewer problems in emerging markets.”