Kenyan Electric Mobility Company Roam Launches Crowdfunding Campaign on Crowdcube

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Kenya’s electric motorcycle sector is starting to gain significant traction. Market share of electric motorcycles jumped from literally 0% to 7% in just over 3 years (2021–2024). Recent figures show that for the first 8 months of 2025, electric motorcycles made up 10% of new motorcycle registrations in Kenya. Speaking with several motorcycle taxi operators in Nairobi recently, I could tell that motorcycle taxi riders in Kenya are starting to warm up to electric mobility, which will help drive demand. In fact, demand for electric motorcycles is increasing, with some players in the East African electric motorcycle sector seeing waitlists of up to 700 people per week. This demand for electric motorcycles can only be satisfied by ramping up production. Electric motorcycles are solving real pain points for riders, enabling them to save more money though the associated lower total cost of ownership.

After proving electric motorcycles are viable and practical for everyday motorcycle taxi (boda boda) applications in Kenya, players in the sector are now actively looking to ramp up their operations, which is a very capital intensive exercise. Several companies in Kenya and other markets on the African continent have raised funding via several equity rounds as well as other grant funds and debt instruments. Roam is one of the pioneers and leaders in Kenya’s electric motorcycle sector. Roam has now launched a crowdfunding campaign on Europe’s largest crowdfunding platform, Crowdcube, to scale its operations, while giving private investors, people from across the globe, the chance to become part of its journey, and Africa’s first clean transition.

Roam is scaling production of its flagship motorcycle, the Roam Air, and is also expanding its charging network. Roam says raising funding is normally reserved for institutional capital, but Roam has in this case decided to invite its community to be part of the company and put an allocation aside, on the same terms as professional investors. Roam says this allocation will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis and will close once filled.

Roam already has an impressive manufacturing facility in Nairobi called Roam Park. Roam Park has an annual capacity of over 50,000 motorcycles, Roam is positioned to scale production rapidly across the continent, powered by Kenya’s 80% renewable energy grid. To get to this stage of operations, Roam’s momentum has so far been fueled by the rise of African fintech, through the company’s partnership with Africa’s largest pay-as-you-go financier, M-KOPA, which has made the Roam electric motorcycle accessible through daily micro-payments. Roam’s Air electric motorcycles are also being used on ride-hailing platforms, with Bolt and Uber offering drivers a sustainable alternative for urban transport.

Roam adds that the company is also building charging infrastructure powered by solar energy. Roam says this network already spans across Kenya, with the capacity to serve thousands of riders daily, and is ready to scale across borders. It is supported by TotalEnergies and European grants. “We’ve proven that electric mobility is possible, affordable, and scalable in Africa,” Filip Lövström, CEO and cofounder of Roam, states. “This crowdfunding campaign is about inclusion. We want anyone within our community, and supporters of our mission, to now be able to join us on our continued journey as a shareholder.”

Roam recently launched Kenya’s first “ride-in, ride-out” service center in Nairobi to give riders quick and reliable support while keeping them on the road and earning. The Roam Nairobi Service Center uses a “first ride in” repair system, where riders will get service as soon as they arrive, and also can enjoy the experience of watching their motorcycles being diagnosed and repaired. The center serves 10 motorcycles at the same time and 150 motorcycles in a day. The facility aims to greatly reduce downtime, which is very important for boda boda riders who depend on daily profits to support their families and servicing loans for their motorcycles. Roam says the facility is easy to access and offers full support, including warranty, repairs, sales, and charging stations. The Roam Nairobi Service Center will first serve Roam Air riders for now, but it is a part of Roam’s bigger long-term plan for interoperability, where all electric motorcycles in Kenya, no matter the brand, will be able to get servicing and charging under one roof. This is a very important point, as interoperability will help catalyze adoption of electric motorcycles even further.

Roam says the African motorcycle market is valued at over $15 billion annually, making it one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing mobility sectors. The move towards electric vehicles in Africa, especially in this electric motorcycle sector, has mainly been driven by the private sector by small startup companies. Most of the developments in Africa’s electric motorcycle sector have been concentrated along what is now known as the “boda belt.” The boda belt, a term coined by Tom Courtright, is a stretch of countries on the African map where motorcycle taxis have been prominent over the years. This belt stretches from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to the outskirts of Dakar, Senegal. There is also significant activity in North African countries such as Morocco, where smaller scooters are used mainly for personal transportation, unlike in East Africa and West Africa, where most of the activity is for commercial transport purposes. By backing Roam’s campaign, private and retail investors could be part of a defining clean technology shift, reducing emissions, cutting fuel dependency, and empowering millions of entrepreneurs across Africa. Should you wish to join Roam in this opportunity, here is a link to the crowdfunding initiative: https://www.roam-electric.com/crowdfunding

Disclaimer: This is not investment advice. You should always seek advice from a professional before making any investment. I am sharing this article in line with my passion to document developments in Africa’s electric mobility sector and to see Africa’s electric mobility sector grow. Over the years, some of our readers have asked how they could get involved to assist these companies that are pioneering innovative projects and businesses in Africa’s electric mobility sector. This presents an opportunity for people to know more about what’s happening in the sector and how to get involved. You can find out more in this video pitch from Roam.

Images courtesy of Roam