Electric mobility startup Roam has opened a portion of its upcoming pre-Series B round to retail investors through Crowdcube, offering its community a chance to buy equity that is normally reserved for institutional backers.
The Nairobi-based electric vehicle company has launched a raise on the UK platform, offering early access to those already on its waiting list. The allocation will close once filled.
CEO Filip Lövström stated that the move aims to enable supporters to participate directly in the company’s growth.
The campaign focuses on electric motorcycles, a sector valued at over $ 15 billion a year in Africa. Roam is targeting commercial riders who rely on fuel-powered motorbikes for daily income, positioning electrification as a way to lower running costs.
Roam operates from its assembly facility in Nairobi with capacity to build over 50,000 motorcycles a year. The company uses Kenya’s largely renewable power grid and has built a charging network backed by TotalEnergies and European funding.
Its bikes are already used by ride-hailing drivers through partners such as Bolt and Uber. Financing from M-KOPA allows riders to acquire the motorcycles through daily payments. Partnerships with DHL, Hitachi and Wells Fargo support its commercial operations.
The funds raised will support production scale-up and expansion of the charging network across Kenya and into regional markets.
