Go Vuba

About the offering

Vuba is on the cusp of securing a $1.3 billion contract to build the world's first modern urban driverless transportation network in Kigali, in partnership with the Rwandan Government. How did we get here?Many people spend a lifetime searching for meaning or purpose. Some are fortunate to find their purpose early and sculpt their life around it. Paul Klahn and Peter Muller each discovered their purpose and, in 2017, serendipitously crossed paths with perfect timing. Similarly, Paul Klahn and Phionah Nyangoma, each from opposite sides of the world, crossed paths unexpectedly and came together to change each other’s lives. A perfect storm resulted, and the vision for Vuba was born.Paul Klahn, Peter Muller and Phionah NyangomaPaul Klahn, Peter Muller and Phionah NyangomaPeter, originally from South Africa, had spent two decades focusing on Smart Mobility solutions – sometimes called “automated transit networks” or “personal rapid transit” (PRT). Peter and his company, PRT Consulting, were well-known internationally as top experts in the field.Paul had spent 15 years developing innovative aircraft designs as an aerospace engineer and working with a number of startup companies. Most recently, he had been COO for a company in the automated transit space. Paul knew he wanted to combine his previous experience with his passion for helping people – in particular, the people of Rwanda, the country where he met Phionah.Vuba: global team, global solutionsVuba: global team, global solutionsIn 2018, while still just acquaintances, Paul invited Peter to lunch to discuss a crazy idea that might change the world. Peter replied without hesitation: “I think that’s a fantastic idea.” Two and a half years later, they are forging ahead with their shared vision. Vuba, in partnership with the Government of Rwanda, is pursuing a city-sized driverless transport system in the capital city of Kigali, which is expected to be a $1.3 Billion project. An international financier has provided a letter of intent to finance the full Kigali PRT Project.Vuba TeamUrban Transportation is a Massive Global Problem That Vuba SolvesIt’s clear that 20th century transportation solutions are failing. Cities worldwide have become terribly congested and blanketed in smog. Our planet is at risk of catastrophic climate change due to CO2 emissions and the use of fossil fuels. More than a million people die every year from traffic accidents, and many millions more are seriously injured. There is no question – we MUST develop new solutions to create a healthy and sustainable future. Vuba provides smart solutions to these massive global challenges.We MUST create new solutions for urban mobility.Vuba gets you there quickly!Imagine requesting a ride via an app (or at a kiosk), and within a minute or less a driverless electric vehicle arrives at a nearby station to pick you up. Riding smoothly above traffic on an elevated guideway, you are taken non-stop to your destination: quickly, quietly, safely, using electricity from renewable sources. No fossil fuels, no air pollution, no CO2 emissions. Freely flowing transport, with no backed up intersections, no rush-hour congestion, no traffic accidents. Just quick, reliable urban transport at affordable prices.Vuba provides an elegant solution for Smart City mobility.Vuba provides an elegant public transportation system woven into the tapestry of your city, providing increased quality of life AND a profitable business model.Profitable public transport for healthier, sustainable cities.Help us create a healthier, sustainable world through Smart Mobility solutions.How it worksUrban OperationsUrban Operations - video coming soonBusy StationStation incorporated into a buildingMall stationComputerized Control SystemThe control system we are using has been operating driverless PRT vehicles in public service flawlessly for over 5 years.Kigali PRT Emulation (click to run)A Multiple Benefit Value PropositionVuba operates under a narrow elevated guideway, taking passengers non-stop to their destination. We reduce congestion on existing streets while completely avoiding pedestrians and road traffic. Through the use of precision computer control, a single guideway can handle the same amount of traffic as six lanes of surface street.A Vuba PRT system can reduce a city’s transport-related CO2 emissions by millions of tons over the life of the system. At the same time, we also eliminate other forms of air pollution and noise pollution, providing an enhanced quality of life for urban dwellers.Installation of small columns instead of large road beds means quick construction and minimal environmental impact. Since Vuba typically uses existing rights of way, we avoid expensive land purchases and disruption to existing infrastructure. Hence, Vuba deploys a capital-lite model of urban transit. The costs of deploying the system is expected to be half the cost of building new roads and 1/5th of the cost of light rail. This, in combination with low operating costs due to solar powered and driverless vehicles transforms transit business economics. Instead of losses and negative returns, Vuba can deliver transit profit margins of 50%+ and returns on invested capital of 15%+.Our elevated system reduces wear and congestion on city streets, and helps reduce the need for more parking space within the city.We help increase property value and free up real estate for other more valuable purposes.While standard modes of public transport require expensive subsidies, Vuba makes moneyA single PRT vehicle can take 20 cars off city streetsWe Make Money from Developing & Operating The Vuba SystemThe Vuba business model has mechanisms for both short-term revenue and long-term recurring revenue. Early revenue is attained through project development/management and sales of proprietary technology. Long term recurring revenue results from ongoing operations and maintenance of the system, and profit sharing from the project Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV - the company running the project). The business is expected to be profitable from the deployment and sale of the first Kigali PRT system segmentSources of revenueProgress/TractionDecember 2018 - Letter of Support - Rwanda Utilities Regulatory AuthorityJanuary 2019 - Letter of Intent - Rwanda Development BoardApril 2019 - Met President Kagame, President of RwandaMay 2109 - Met with 4 ministers, mayor and senior officials - agreed to move forwardJune 2019 - Delivered Pre-Feasibility StudyAugust 2019 - Delivered Financial ModelOctober 2109 - Engaged local tech partnersNovember 2019 - Delivered grant funding analysisMarch 2020 - Rwandan Government commits to help fund project through equity investment in VubaJuly 2020 - Large Engineering/Procurement/Construction (EPC) Consortium expresses interest in funding and building Kigali PRT ProjectSeptember 2020 - International investment firm intends to finance Vuba and the full Kigali PRT Project (see letter of intent)October 2020 - Presented proposed Special Purpose Vehicle $1,3 bill Financing Terms to Rwanda Minister of Infrastructure (positively received)October 2020 - Agreed to terms for the formal, independent Kigali PRT Feasibility Study (International consulting firm with audited financials and transportation model) to be funded by the Government and completed by June 2021.October 2020 - Identified two potential Kigali PRT pilot track locations: 1) Green City Kigali with FONERWA Green Fund and 2) connecting two bus ranks to downtown Kigali October 2020 - Established relationships with East African Finance Leaders including Rwanda Reserve Bank Chief Economist; Rwanda Stock Exchange CEO; Bank of Kigali CEO; Development Bank Rwanda CEO and two African funds

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