Zeno Secures $25M Series A to Scale Electric Vehicle Ecosystem in East Africa

Zeno, a rising leader in electric mobility and distributed energy services, has announced a combined $25 million Series A equity and debt financing round. The funding marks a significant milestone for the company as it seeks to expand its innovative "multi-modal" charging infrastructure and scale production of its flagship electric motorcycle across East Africa.

The equity portion of the round was led by Congruent Ventures, with participation from over a dozen new and existing investors. Debt facilities were provided by Trifecta Capital and Camber Road. This follows a successful $9.5 million seed round previously led by Lowercarbon Capital.

A Unique Approach to EV Charging

While many EV startups in emerging markets focus strictly on battery swapping, Zeno has distinguished itself by introducing the world’s first interoperable multi modal charging network for two and three wheel vehicles.

Currently operating across four cities in East Africa with over 150 locations, Zeno’s infrastructure combines:

• High capacity swap stations with a small physical footprint.

• Public plug in fast chargers for rapid top ups.

• Home charging solutions for maximum user flexibility.

This hybrid model aims to provide better charging economics and more reliable uptime than traditional swap-only business models.

Scaling the "Emara" Electric Motorcycle

The capital injection will be used to clear a massive backlog of demand. Zeno reports a waitlist of more than 25,000 retail and fleet customers. To meet this, the company plans to ramp up production of its flagship Emara, a sport utility motorcycle designed specifically for the rigors of the African market.

"Our focus from day one has been the right product first, then rigorous execution; being the best mover, not the first mover," said Michael Spencer, CEO and Founder of Zeno. “We have demonstrated that we can execute on excellent, rapid, and cost-effective product development.”

Beyond Mobility: A Distributed Energy Vision

Zeno’s long term strategy extends past transportation. The company envisions a broader "productive use" ecosystem where its battery technology powers not just movement, but also homes and businesses across emerging markets.

By integrating energy generation with mobility, Zeno aims to lower operating costs for commercial riders by up to 50% compared to traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) alternatives.

“Zeno’s solution uniquely satisfies commercial performance requirements,” noted Gray Robinson, Partner at Congruent Ventures. “We believe they have the platform and team required to achieve rapid scale.”

With 1,000 active motorbike and energy subscription customers already on the platform, Zeno is positioned to become a dominant force in the transition to sustainable energy across the African continent.