Last year, Safaricom announced it was investing in Sendy, a Nairobi-based package delivery start-up and the first recipient of the Safaricom Spark Fund. The Safaricom Spark Venture Fund, is a $1 Million fund created with the objective of allowing techpreneurs in Kenya access financing, mentorship and resources to scale their businesses. Eligible start-ups receive amounts between $75,000 and $250,000. The fund was set-up for an initial two-year period and administered by international tech fund TBL Invest, as the principal fund managers.
Sendy uses a mobile application to connect motorcycle riders, drivers of vans and pickup trucks to customers wishing to send packages and documents. Customers are able to track the movement and location of their packages in real time using their app and web platform. Sendy was launched in September 2014 and has operations in Nairobi and Thika.
Ideally, a user will log onto the Sendy App or web platform and ask to have a pick up or delivery done for them. After the service is completed, they receive notifications complete with the name of the rider and point of delivery. Like Uber, Sendy is an intermediary and earns a fraction of the fees charged for pickups and deliveries. Sendy does not own any motorcycles and instead has partners who use its app for these services.
Sendy has now announced it will launch operations in Kisumu City offering door-to-door delivery services as well as delivery of goods between Nairobi and Kisumu. The charges for the delivery of goods within the city include a base fee of Kshs 140 for up to to 7 kilometers, Kshs 30 for additional kilometers and Kshs 50 for additional kilometers. Intercity charges include base fee of Kshs 623 with base fee covering packages upto 20 kgs, Kshs 18 for additional kilograms and Kshs 1750 for an additional cubic meter.
