Photo: Nigerian Tribune
Adetayo Bamiduro didn't set out to fight climate change. The goal of his Lagos-based startup, Metro Africa Xpress (MAX), was to help professional drivers own their own vehicles - mostly motorcycles - through lease-to-own financing so they could earn more from delivery and passenger gigs. But the bikes, mostly imported from China, weren't designed for Africa, and their manufacturers weren't willing to make changes. So Bamiduro decided to build his own bikes and, as it turned out, electric bikes were the easiest to build, using locally-sourced parts and imported batteries. The M3, its newest motorcycle model, has reinforced suspension, a battery range of up to 100 miles, and built-in USB ports for phone charging. In December, MAX closed a $31 million fundraising round co-led by Global Ventures and London-based private equity firm Lightrock, its first investment in an African mobility company. Bamiduro hopes to expand into Ghana and Egypt in early 2022.
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