Zeelo Raises $23M To Accelerate AI-Powered Commutes And The Future of Shared Transportation

When you have access to a reliable commute, the opportunities are endless. At Zeelo, that belief has powered every route we have ever built, every partnership we have nurtured and every investment we have ever made in our technology.

And we are thrilled to share another exciting milestone in that journey. We have just secured $23M in Series B funding to further scale our mission: making sustainable, inclusive transportation the norm, not the exception, for frontline workers, students and modern workforces on both sides of the Atlantic. This round was led by Blue Earth Capital, a purpose-driven investor backing companies committed to measurable environmental and social impact. Blue Earth joins Direttissima Growth Partners and the family office of Peter Bauer, who continue to support our long-term vision.

In the UK and Ireland, Zeelo has become the go-to name in managed commuter and home to school transportation; reaching profitability in these core markets, maintaining a 98% customer satisfaction rate, and showing that efficient service and exceptional customer experience can go hand in hand.

Our acquisition of Kura in 2024 was just one signal of our growing momentum. With this new investment, we are doubling down; bringing smarter, greener and tech powered transportation to even more communities. 

But we aren’t stopping there! In the last year alone, we have seen 175% YoY revenue growth across North America. Now, with fresh capital and new additions to our leadership team, including James Winn as CRO in our Boston office, we’re accelerating our go-to-market strategy.

While technology has always been what sets Zeelo apart from the competition, it’s never been technology for tech’s sake. Our proprietary routing software and AI-powered transportation management platform are automating the complexities of shared mobility; from route design to incident response. But the real magic is in how it serves people: making transportation simpler for riders, less admin heavy for employers and schools to manage, and more efficient for our operator partners to deliver. It’s AI with empathy, designed to solve real world problems, not just optimise spreadsheets. 

We are building a model that moves with the times. Zeelo’s Transportation-as-a-Service (TaaS) model isn’t just about buses or coaches, it’s about outcomes. We are supporting the daily journeys of essential workers, corporate employees, and students across thousands of routes. In 2024, we delivered over 7million rides, and ensured 10% of our UK trips were fully electric, with the rest fully offset. By partnering with local trusted operators, and investing in fleet electrification and continuous optimisation, we are showing the world what the future of shared mobility can (and should) look like.

So what’s next? This investment gives us the firepower to go further, faster! We will continue to partner with electric and autonomous vehicle providers, enhancing self-serve capabilities for our customers and riders and exploring strategic acquisitions to expand our global platform. 

“Our mission is to empower opportunity through sustainable transportation,” said Sam Ryan, Co-Founder & CEO of Zeelo. “With this new investment, we’re scaling our impact – delivering inclusive mobility programs that not only reduce CO₂ emissions and car dependency, but also connect people to work and education in areas not served by public transits. Our proprietary tech platform and AI-powered operations are driving incredible ROI for customers, while our team continues to raise the bar for service quality”.

We are building something bigger than a transportation network. We are building an infrastructure for opportunity; powered by clean tech, operational excellence, and a belief that how you get to work or school shouldn’t hold you back. 

https://www.thetimes.com/business-money/entrepreneurs/article/transport-optimiser-zeelo-raises-23m-to-expand-in-america-times-enterprise-network-0sxx6fpzd