Yahoo Finance Start-up Zebra Fuel eyes rapid expansion after $2.5m funding injection
A start-up that delivers diesel door-to-door across London is poised to expand its operation after securing funding from some of tech’s big hitters.
Zebra Fuel has raised $2.5m (£1.8m) in seed funding which it wants to use to offer petrol, biofuel and electricity to its customers.
Zoopla founder Alex Chesterman, Lastminute.com founder Brent Hoberman and Lovefilm founder Saul Klein’s venture capital fund LocalGlobe are among the backers of the start-up.
The app-based service, the brainchild of Reda Bennis and Romain Saint Guilhem, allows users to book a Zebra driver to deliver diesel to their door.
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The company uses specially-equipped vans to pump fuel into a customer’s vehicle. It currently only operates in Zones 1 to 4 but has big plans for the future, including launching in other cities here and abroad.
“Simply no one likes to fill up the car but until now there has been no alternative,” said Bennis. “Ultimately, our aim is to replace the petrol station.”
“We’re like a Formula 1 pit stop for your car, van, truck or coach,” he added.
The company can fill up during the night, and the customer does not have to be there – they just need to leave the filler cap unlocked.
Zebra Fuel, which launched early last year, claims its prices match or better those at the forecourts. It says mobile electricity charging will come later this year.
