Zeno secures $25M funding to accelerate battery-swap electric motorbike production

The shift toward electric vehicles may have hit a speed bump in the U.S. Still, momentum remains strong in East Africa, where several startups are competing for a share of the fast-growing electric motorbike sector.

Zeno is one of those startups, and this week the company announced a $25 million Series A round to expand its app-controlled battery-swapping network and increase production of its Emara motorcycles.

Roughly $20.5 million of the total came through an equity raise, Zeno co-founder and CEO Michael Spencer said. The round was led by Congruent Ventures, with participation from Active Impact and Lowercarbon Capital. The remaining $4.5 million was provided through a debt facility from Camber Road and Trifecta Capital.

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

Since coming out of stealth about a year and a half ago, Zeno has produced more than 800 of its Emara electric motorbikes and established over 150 charging locations across four cities in Kenya and Uganda.

Motorbikes are a vital part of daily transportation in the region, and Zeno is betting it can win over riders by offering operating costs that are 50% lower than those of internal combustion motorcycles. The company said that more than 25,000 retail and fleet customers are currently waiting to purchase an Emara, while production is running at about 70 to 80 bikes each week. The latest funding round is expected to help the company meet that demand.

According to Zeno, the Emara can travel approximately 100 kilometres (60 miles) on a single charge and can carry up to 250 kilograms (550 pounds). The motorcycle is priced at roughly $1,300 without a battery and about $2,000 with one included.

The bike delivers 8 kW of peak power, equivalent to a 150 cc internal combustion engine. But because all of its torque is available immediately from a standstill, it can climb steep hills even when fully loaded — a major benefit for bodaboda operators, who regularly transport both passengers and cargo on their motorcycles.

Customers who choose not to buy the battery upfront can instead opt for a monthly subscription or a pay-per-use model. They can charge the bikes at home or visit one of Zeno’s battery-swap stations.

Like Slate Auto in the U.S., Zeno offers a selection of accessories and wraps, allowing customers to personalise their bikes.

To make the offering even more appealing, Zeno plans to introduce a battery dock that homes and businesses can use to power lights and household appliances. Spencer said the dock is currently in the prototype stage, and around a dozen customers are already testing the product.

If Zeno succeeds in bringing the battery dock to market, it could become more deeply embedded in the region’s electricity infrastructure. Large parts of East Africa’s power grid remain unreliable, creating opportunities for companies that provide modular energy solutions. Some startups are helping build mini-grids and microgrids, while others, including Zeno, are betting that portable, modular batteries can play a long-term role.

When Spencer co-founded Zeno, he said he drew inspiration from his former employer, Tesla, and the company’s original master plan, which focused on deploying electric vehicles and clean energy at scale. As he explained in 2024, the idea “has more legs and more room to run with lower hurdles in emerging markets.”