eWAKA
eWAKA revolutionizes last-mile delivery in Africa with innovative mobility solutions, empowering riders to build sustainable livelihoods. They provide a diverse range of electric bicycles and motorcycles combined with a comprehensive IoT-enabled order/fleet management platform, creating economic opportunity for underserved households. 1,172 active riders have increased their daily income by up to 40%, positively impacting over 4,600 lives, with plans to reach 200,000 riders by 2028.
The Problem
Across Africa, an estimated 30 million delivery riders form the backbone of the informal economy, providing essential mobility for people, goods, and services. Yet most of these riders operate on precarious margins, spending up to half of their daily income on fuel and repairs, resulting in a lack of long-term financial stability. Despite the potential of electric two-wheelers (E2Ws) to reduce operational costs by 30 to 40%, their high upfront cost, lack of accessible financing, and insufficient charging infrastructure have made adoption of these E2Ws out of reach for most low-income riders. Existing solutions either focus on vehicle sales or logistics services, which do not address the systemic barriers to ownership and income growth. As a result, millions of riders — many of whom support their entire household — remain trapped in a cycle of high costs, limited earning potential, and economic vulnerability.
The Solution
eWAKA provides a range of electric bikes, prioritizing efficiency and eco-friendly transportation. Powered by rechargeable batteries, all eWAKA electric bikes deliver a sustainable riding experience. More than just selling bikes, eWAKA combines affordable lease-to-own financing, battery-swapping infrastructure, and fleet management technology into an integrated platform that lowers operating costs, improves asset ownership, and maximizes rider productivity. Through real-time performance tracking, eWAKA’s platform ensures riders can increase their earnings while reducing dependence on fuel prices. The model has evolved from pure logistics to a scalable structure that partners with financing institutions and delivery aggregators. This model is designed to sustainably scale across urban and peri-urban markets, enabling thousands of riders to transition from informal gig work to stable, income-generating livelihoods.
Over the next five years, eWAKA aims to grow from 1,172 active riders to over 2,500 in Kenya and Rwanda by 2026, reaching 200,000 riders by 2028 and impacting 800,000 lives. This scale will be driven by expanding their logistics platform, growing B2B2C partnerships, and deepening battery-swapping infrastructure.
Impact
- 1,172 active riders empowered with income-generating electric mobility, supporting over 4,600 livelihoods.
- Riders have increased their daily income by up to 40%, helping them afford essentials like food, housing, and education.
Leadership
Céleste Vogel
Céleste, co-founder and CEO, brings over two decades of experience in senior legal and transactional roles across global multinationals in the finance and engineering sectors. Her background spans cross-border finance, infrastructure, complex commercial transactions, and governance within regulated environments. She has led global, cross-functional teams and applies institutional discipline to strategy, partnerships, fundraising, and governance at eWAKA.
Jimmy Tune
Jimmy, co-founder and Head of Asset Operations, founded his first logistics company while still in university and brings deep, hands-on entrepreneurial experience in mobility and last-mile operations. At eWAKA, he leads asset performance, deployment readiness, quality control, and training.