Treep: Transparency and Traceability for Public Transportation in Peru

The Argentine startup Ualabee has launched the mobility platform Treep in Lima. This application aims to integrate information from all actors in the public transportation and micromobility system. Alexis Picón, COO and co-founder of Ualabee, explains that the goal is to reach 500,000 users in Lima, bringing transparency and traceability to the city's chaotic public transportation system.

Ualabee's Origin and Evolution

Ualabee was founded in 2019 in Córdoba, Argentina, by Alexis Picón, Joaquín Di Mario, Franco Rapetti, and José Montalvo. The startup emerged after the creation and closure of an app called MiAutobus. In 2020, due to the pandemic and investors' demands for profitable products, Ualabee shifted its business model from B2C to B2B. Currently, the company integrates multiple public transportation and micromobility systems into a single platform, either under its brand Treep in Peru or through third-party brands.

Treep officially entered the Peruvian market in March of this year, although Ualabee had been operating locally for several months. In Lima and Callao, around 75% of citizens use public or collective transportation. Unlike other countries like Chile and Mexico, Lima presented a significant need for digitalizing the public mobility system. According to Alexis Picón, COO of Ualabee, this is a major challenge given the city's chaotic traffic and lack of technological infrastructure in the transportation system.

Goals and Projections

The Treep app leverages data reported by users, such as route updates or the absence of bus stops, along with periodic surveys. One example of this collaboration is the integration of GPS in buses, allowing users to see real-time locations. They are also developing a panic button for reporting incidents of violence, theft, or harassment, with the intention of sharing this information with the government and police.

Ualabee aims to reach 500,000 users in Lima and have at least 50% of public transportation agencies reporting real-time information. They estimate earning one million dollars in Peru in 2024 and generating two million in regional revenue. In 2023, they achieved $430,000.

Future and Expansion

The startup has a balanced customer base between the private industry and governments. One of their main clients is Google Maps. Treep stands out from competitors by offering real-time bus information and fostering an active user community. Ualabee also provides valuable data to companies like Uber and Cabify, helping them identify areas where public transportation is insufficient.

In Peru, Ualabee does not plan to expand to other cities in the short term but is considering Arequipa, Trujillo, and Cusco for the medium term. Regionally, they are preparing to enter Paraguay. The startup's expansion has been financed by angel investors and public-private investments. Since changing their business model, Ualabee has focused on profitability and is close to reaching 'break even'. They are also closing an investment round of approximately $1.2 million to accelerate growth in Peru and Mexico.

With the Treep app, Ualabee is transforming public transportation in Lima by offering innovative and collaborative solutions. Their focus on digitalization and data usage to improve urban mobility promises a more organized and efficient future for Lima's citizens and eventually for other cities in the region.