Anda: 10 Key Things You Must Know

Overview

Anda is an innovative mobility technology startup based in Angola, committed to transforming the informal motorcycle taxi industry into a structured, professional, and financially inclusive sector. Founded in 2022, Anda addresses critical challenges faced by approximately 1.2 million motorcycle taxi drivers in Angola, many of whom operate informally without licenses, insurance, or proper safety training. Through a unique "drive-to-own" asset financing model, combined with a digital platform for ride-hailing and delivery, Anda not only helps drivers acquire ownership of motorcycles but also promotes safety, financial empowerment, and sustainable urban transportation solutions. This article explores 10 key insights about Anda’s vision, operations, market impact, and future prospects.

1. Origins and Founding Vision

Anda was co-founded by Sergio Tati and Joerg Nuehrmann in 2022 in Luanda, Angola. It originated from a vision to formalize the vast and fragmented motorcycle taxi sector, which is essential for urban mobility in Angola but largely unregulated and informal. Sergio, with a rich multicultural and professional background spanning investment banking, football, and entrepreneurship, aimed to make Angola a hub for innovative African mobility solutions. His experience in global finance and local market insights fueled Anda’s creation to empower motorcycle taxi drivers through ownership and digital innovation.

2. Addressing a Large and Informal Market

The motorcycle taxi market in Angola is estimated to be worth around $5 billion, with 1.2 million drivers nationally, 600,000 of whom operate in the capital city Luanda. Despite this scale, the sector has remained predominantly informal, with many drivers unlicensed, uninsured, and without access to financial services. Drivers often rent motorcycles daily, limiting their earning potential and job security. Anda’s model tackles these challenges by formalizing the sector and enabling drivers to transition into professional, financially included entrepreneurs.

3. The Drive-to-Own Business Model

Anda’s flagship product is its "drive-to-own" asset financing scheme, where drivers receive new motorcycles on flexible repayment plans linked to their earnings. Drivers gradually pay off their motorcycles through income generated via the platform, ultimately gaining full ownership. This approach provides a route to asset ownership, increased income, and financial inclusion for drivers traditionally excluded from credit systems. Complementing this financing, Anda offers insurance, safety equipment, and comprehensive training, ensuring safer and more reliable mobility services.

4. Technology Integration and Digital Platform

Central to Anda’s operations is a proprietary technology stack, including a backend system and a ride-hailing mobile app. This platform allows customers to book rides and delivery services, make digital payments, and monitor trips with GPS tracking. For drivers, the system facilitates loan management, performance monitoring, and customer engagement. The app’s design helps connect and streamline fragmented motorcycle taxi services, creating a digital ecosystem that fosters transparency, efficiency, and growth.

5. Commitment to Safety and Professional Training

In recognizing the high accident rates and poor working conditions among informal motorcycle taxi drivers, Anda prioritizes rigorous safety training and certification through its Anda Pilot Safety Academy. Drivers receive formal instruction on road safety, compliance with traffic laws, and financial literacy. Anda also equips drivers with insurance coverage and GPS-based ride monitoring, supported by a rapid response team for emergencies. These initiatives enhance passenger confidence and contribute to urban transport safety.

6. Sustainable Mobility and Electric Vehicle Integration

Anda is pioneering the transition toward greener mobility in Angola by piloting electric motorcycles and related charging infrastructure. By introducing electric vehicles (EVs), the company aims to reduce operating costs for drivers, enhance environmental sustainability, and combat urban air pollution. This focus aligns with global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to sustainable cities and climate action, positioning Anda as a forward-thinking urban mobility provider.

7. Overcoming Challenges in Angola’s Digital and Financial Landscape

Operating in Angola presents unique challenges, including limited digital infrastructure, low smartphone penetration, and currency volatility. Anda has innovatively bundled smartphone financing with motorcycle loans to ensure driver access to the digital platform. The company also navigates local currency constraints and capital transfer restrictions to secure financing and manage operations. These hurdles require creative solutions that underscore Anda’s adaptability and market-specific strategies.

8. Recognition and Funding Milestones

Anda’s innovative model has attracted significant international investment, most recently securing $3.4 million (approx. €3 million) in seed funding led by European venture capital firms Breega and Speedinvest, alongside partners from France, Austria, Japan, and the US. This capital infusion supports fleet expansion, technology development, driver onboarding, and safety enhancements. Anda is notably the first Angolan startup to attract such a diverse global investment consortium, marking Angola’s rising profile in the African tech ecosystem.

9. Community Impact and Economic Empowerment

Anda’s work extends beyond business to social and economic inclusion. By formalizing informal drivers, the company creates access to financial products, decent employment, and professional growth opportunities. This uplift helps reduce poverty and promotes local entrepreneurship, particularly among marginalized groups. Anda’s partnerships with financial institutions facilitate banking access and financial literacy, directly addressing SDGs related to no poverty and decent work.

10. Future Expansion and Pan-African Ambitions

Building on its success in Angola, Anda plans to scale within the country’s major cities and expand to neighboring African markets such as Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The platform’s integrated approach—combining asset financing, training, insurance, and technology—is unique in the region and positions Anda as a potential leader in transforming two- and three-wheeler mobility across sub-Saharan Africa. The company’s evolving model also includes exploring services beyond motorcycles, including cars and larger commercial vehicles.

Conclusion

Anda exemplifies how innovative fintech and mobility solutions can revolutionize informal transport sectors in Africa, delivering safety, ownership, and economic empowerment to millions. By formalizing Angola’s motorcycle taxi market with technology-driven asset financing and training, Anda not only improves livelihoods but also advances urban mobility and sustainability. As it scales and explores pan-African expansion, Anda’s vision to build Africa’s most trusted platform for mobility entrepreneurs promises to reshape urban transport and influence social inclusion across the continent. Will Anda’s model become the blueprint for informal sector transformation throughout Africa? Only time will tell.