Busy Boda is a motorcycle hailing startup which has launched in Nairobi with plans to bring order in this highly informal sector by focusing primarily on making boda boda riders digital entrepreneurs and not just survivors.
Though its launching to take on established services such as Taxify Boda, Sendy, Safeboda which launched recently in Kenya and the yet to be launched Uber Bike, Busy Boda says to it will focus on both passenger and courier services allowing users to use the app to get a ride for themselves, or for safe delivery of a parcel or even get a cheque banked.
Founded by 20 and 22 year-old siblings Atharva Tembhekar and Vaidehi Tembhekar, Busy Boda is also promising to provide financial planning training to riders so they can manage their money and save money to eventually buy their own motorbikes. All Busy Boda riders will also access value added services at affordable rates, with payment plans in the form of installments, which also helps riders save costs significantly in the long run.
Read Also: Lagos Blue Line rail project may not be ready until 2022
Speaking to TechMoran, Vaidehi, who is a Chemical Engineering graduate from the University of Sheffield and Atharva who is in his final year of Electrical Engineering at the University of Bath in the United Kingdom said having heard of multiple situations where boda boda riders were exploited, they wanted to give back to the community they grew up in by creating an app that could create jobs, empower riders and help them grow into digital entrepreneurs.
“Busy Boda is a platform created to ensure riders don’t spend time waiting for clients at boda boda stages,” Vaidehi told TechMoran. “We want to encourage riders to be busier by doing more trips per day. This will increase their daily income.”
With a team comprising of tech-savvy millenials, Busy Boda says it takes only a small commission from the riders based on whether the ride was a passenger or courier ride.
“We have matatus that are a cost effective way of commute. We also have taxis that are a more expensive option but provide comfort. But what happens when you’re in traffic? Due to ever increasing congestion and traffic in Nairobi, productivity is being compromised therefore Busy Boda wishes to fill the gap with our innovative boda boda hailing Mobile App,” Vaidehi, told TechMoran.