Only mavericks change the world. They're the ones who look at massive problems and refuse to accept that this is just how things are. They're obsessed with making a real dent in the universe. And when you get a bunch of these mavericks together in one room, magic happens.
That's exactly what we saw when we met the Zeno team.
The Maverick Assembly
Michael Spencer spent years in Africa building healthcare networks and expanding internet access before joining Tesla in 2018, jumping right into fighting fires in the infamous "production hell" before leading supercharger deployment and the Tesla Energy business. Rob Newberry held patents from his time at Apple and Nest, having worked directly with Tony Fadell and Steve Jobs. Sagar Bose designed the production versions of Ola's Hypercharger and Sun Mobility's swap stations. Anikit Katyarmal led special EV projects at Hero Motor Corp.
Beyond talented individuals, these were industry transformers—people who had already revolutionized sectors two or three times over. Now they were coming together with a shared obsession: solving the mobility crisis in emerging markets while tackling carbon emissions head on.
Speed as a Superpower
Here's what separates dreamers from doers: speed.
When you have a burning problem affecting millions of people daily, you can't afford to spend years in R&D. The Zeno team understood this. They went from initial sketches to delivering actual vehicles to customers in under 18 months. Not prototypes. Not concepts. Real motorcycles that people could ride.
They moved with calculated urgency, not reckless haste. They partnered with Kiska, the design firm behind KTM's Duke 990 and Bajaj's Chetak rebrand. They contracted manufacturing instead of building factories. They focused relentlessly on what mattered: getting a superior product into riders' hands fast.
Most EV companies in Africa were still presenting slide decks. Zeno was delivering motorcycles.
The Problem Worth Solving
Five million Boda Boda drivers across East Africa wake up every day facing the same cruel math. They work 14 hour days, cover 150-300 kilometers, and watch most of their earnings disappear into fuel tanks. These riders, mostly young people between 20 and 30, make about $10 per day. More than $6 goes straight to fuel.
The economic burden compounds into an environmental catastrophe. Africa imports $121 billion worth of oil annually while its cities choke on emissions. The motorcycle taxi industry alone contributes massively to urban pollution across the continent, contributing, in some cases over 40% of street level air pollution.
Meanwhile, the market was exploding. East Africa saw a 600% surge in EV motorcycle sales between 2022 and 2023. The demand was there. The infrastructure wasn't.
Building Both Sides of the Equation
Most EV companies make a critical mistake. They build vehicles and hope someone else figures out charging. That's like selling phones without cell towers.
Zeno took a different approach. They're building the entire ecosystem: the motorcycles AND the charging infrastructure. Home charging for overnight. Fast charging for lunch breaks. Battery swapping for instant refueling. They call it multi modal charging, but really it's just common sense. Give riders options that fit their actual lives, providing the freedom of flexible charging that matches the freedom that comes with owning a motorcycle.
The battery as a service model was particularly clever. Riders buy the motorcycle without the battery, dramatically lowering upfront costs. Then they pay for battery access through subscriptions or pay as you go plans. It's the same recurring revenue model that makes SaaS businesses so valuable, applied to physical infrastructure where Zeno is capturing $800-$1,000 a year per customer, and that is after selling a motorbike for $1,500!
Real Impact, Real Numbers
A Zeno rider saves $3+ per day on fuel costs. That's a 25-50% increase in take home income. For someone making $8-10 a day, that's life changing.
But the real validation came from the market. Tens of thousands of pre orders poured in before Zeno even started marketing or advertising. The word of mouth was organic and intense. Riders were telling other riders. No marketing budget needed.
We saw similar dynamics with companies like Bolt and SafeBoda transforming ride hailing in Africa. The best products in emerging markets don't need to be sold. They spread because they solve real problems with dramatic improvements.
The Bigger Picture
Climate change isn't waiting for perfect solutions. Every day matters. Every motorcycle converted from petrol to electric prevents tons of carbon emissions over its lifetime. Multiply that by millions of vehicles across Africa and India, and you're talking about genuine planetary impact.
Zeno flips the script entirely: riders get a superior, more affordable product where environmental benefits come as a bonus. Faster acceleration, better load carrying capacity. Lower operating costs. Less maintenance. The environmental benefit is the bonus, not the pitch.
Why Day Zero Ventures
We look for founders who combine impossible ambition with practical execution. Teams that move fast without breaking things. Businesses that generate recurring revenue while solving existential problems.
Zeno checks every box. They've assembled a team of proven builders who've already changed industries. They're moving at startup speed while building hardware. They're creating a SaaS like business model in physical infrastructure. Most importantly, they're solving a problem that affects millions while building a massive business.
The $100K we're investing in this seed round represents more than capital—we're betting that when mavericks unite around a mission this important, with execution this strong, they transcend company-building. They change how entire continents move.
That's the kind of impact we exist to enable. And that's why we're proud to back Zeno as they electrify mobility across emerging markets, one motorcycle at a time.