In a landmark moment for African tech, Treepz, one of the continent’s fastest-growing mobility startups, has officially launched its operations in Canada, marking a bold new chapter in its global journey.
With the University of Toronto’s sponsored African Impact Initiative as its first corporate travel client in North America and the warm welcome of Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown, this launch symbolizes more than just expansion—it is a powerful narrative of African innovation meeting global opportunity.
From Lagos to Brampton: A Journey Rooted in Grit and Vision
Treepz began in 2019 as a local transportation startup in Lagos, Nigeria, aiming to organize chaos in urban mobility with a tech-driven, customer-first model.
Today, it operates across 25 cities in five countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, and now Canada, having served over 6 million customers in just five years.
This latest milestone, the North American launch, proves that African startups can not only solve local problems but also scale globally to meet international standards.
Treepz’s CEO, Onyeka Akumah, reflected on this incredible journey during the launch ceremony at City Hall in Brampton, Ontario, saying:
“The launch of Treepz Canada is a strong positive statement of intent for not just our company but how we represent all African startups. We can truly build globally acceptable and reputable brands right from the streets of Lagos… It’s still day one, and we have approached this launch like the first day we launched on the 16th of September, 2019, with humility, hunger, and drive to get more done for our customers.”
Why Canada? A Vision Years in the Making
Treepz’s expansion into Canada is not sudden, it began in 2021 when the company participated in the Techstars Toronto accelerator program.
During that time, Akumah had virtual meetings with Mayor Patrick Brown to explore future collaborations.
Since then, Treepz has attracted several Canadian investors and strengthened ties with key institutions like the World Trade Center’s TAP program by the Black Entrepreneurship Alliance and the Brampton Entrepreneurs program.
The interest in Canada also stems from real-world opportunity. With over 16.5 million Canadians commuting daily and nearly 39 million outbound trips recorded in 2024, the demand for reliable, efficient corporate travel solutions is booming, and Treepz is ready to meet that demand.
A Strategic Launch with a Prestigious Client
The launch was made even more momentous with the announcement of Treepz’s first corporate travel client in Canada: a two-year partnership with the African Impact Initiative, supported by the University of Toronto. Through this partnership, Treepz will coordinate comprehensive travel logistics, including flights, accommodation, local transportation, and experiences, for delegations traveling to South Africa, Kenya, Ghana, and Rwanda annually.
This partnership is more than a business win, it’s a validation of Treepz’s reputation, scalability, and operational excellence.
A Warm Welcome from Brampton
Mayor Patrick Brown, a consistent supporter of Treepz since 2021, hosted the company’s founders at Brampton’s City Hall and delivered a stirring endorsement:
“Treepz has brilliant founders. Six million users in its first five years across multiple countries? It’s purely impressive. Corporate mobility is part of the global logistics conversation, and they are at the heart of it. If you can handle traffic in Lagos, you can handle it anywhere in the world. Treepz, welcome to Brampton. Welcome home.”
Also in attendance was Erica Henry-Jackman, Brampton’s manager for Investment Attraction and International Relations, who noted:
“Treepz was our first Nigerian company when we launched the BHive program. So this feels like a homecoming moment.”
A New Chapter for African Tech
Treepz’s success is not just a company milestone, it is a powerful symbol of what African startups can achieve on the global stage. Supported by a visionary team and committed investors, Treepz is paving the way for homegrown African solutions to address global mobility and corporate travel needs.
As Akumah concluded:
“We are now a global brand directly serving customers on two continents. But this is still only the beginning. We’re inviting more corporations to join us, to choose Treepz as their trusted corporate travel partner.”
Thank you to the Mayor of Brampton, Patrick Brown, and his team, including Erica Henry-Jackman, Uche Okugo, Garnett Manning, and Alison Theodore, who have supported us since 2021, leading up to this day. We are also grateful to the likes of Efosa and Osas Obano, who ensured we could secure our first contract with the University of Toronto’s sponsored African Impact Initiative. It’s been almost one year of work, but we are now live, and from here on, we invite more corporations to choose Treepz as their corporate travel partner. The evidence of 6 million customers we’ve served for more than 5 years is proof that we are ready to serve you as well.”
With Treepz planting its flag in Canada, a new page has turned in the global startup story, one where innovation from Africa is not just participating in the future, but shaping it.
