EXECUTIVE INTERVIEWS > PUBLIC SECTOR
A BILLION DOLLAR TECH COMPANY
Tirhal is Sudan’s Uber, a transportation technology company with a vision. Mohamed Elzakey continues to push the business into growth tapping into new regions aiming for the highest valuation of a company in Sudanese history.
I started my career being involved in a number of commercial activities including mining, agriculture, and book sales. I then joined a technical organization, one of the leading companies in Sudan, where I identified that a there the set of success factors in the market in terms of using technology and employing it to satisfy the needs and desires of the market, which, if exploited, could become an idea of travel. A tangible reality which referred to the start of the business. I immediately decided to pursue my idea and started Tirhal with a few thousand dollars. “
Since its establishment, Tirhal, has succeeded in creating a homogeneous team that has become the backbone of the business who believed in the idea, challenged failure and loved success. They contributed to the development and implementation of growth plans with the continuous interest of the senior management to achieve the difficult equation, which stipulates complete customer satisfaction while establishing the principle of partnership with the end users needing transportation. With 5 million customers, covering 6 major cities in Sudan, 70,000 registered and vetted drivers, we achieved over 30 millions trips to date.
Yes, the US sanctions made it difficult for us, moreover service technology applications, within taxis & transportation, are an emerging field in the Sudanese market, so the pressure was immense. Tirhal used foreign technology, but at the same time we attracted the most distinguished young Sudanese brains, energy, and enthusiasm to reach and overcome those challenges. Technology has made the world a small village, so despite the US sanctions, we were able to benefit from alternative global expertise.
Since the establishment of the company on in September 2016, we have been able to rise to first rank and maintain it in our field of activity in terms of the number of clients and travellers, and the brand has been classified the fastest growing in Sudan for the year 2018 among its peers. To achieve this, it was necessary for us to deserve the title of being leaders in providing services to travellers from car insurance, Medical insurance, and other travel related services. Tirhal is Sudan’s first mobile phone application to reach one million downloads on the play stores. For customers, it was creating a variety of options that meet the different classes of society, such as providing saloon, prestige and economical options, and a women’s channel called “Nawaem” was added as an intrusion into the culture in the taxi sector, which was historically dominated exclusively for men.
We are constantly seeking partners and investors who see value in our business and share our growth plans. We are executing a strategy which involves further expansion into other cities in Sudan. We have plans to enter foreign territories and we will go global. Finally, we plan to offer new features which shall enhance the customer experience and open new markets making our platform a one stop shop. Going global coupled with diversifying into offering new services shall be the key to making Tirhal valued as known international multi – billion transportation technology companies.
Many entrepreneurs inspired me, in particular Apple’s Steve Jobs who created the world’s most recognized brand and never gave up, bringing more creative ideas and paid the price for their implementation and because of him, he changed the world in different industries.
Sudan is a rich environment with modern communication infrastructure available at affordable prices with the widespread use of smart phones in all layers of society, hence technology companies can add a set of great values to society through the services they provide in various directions through these media.
Sudan Business Magazine
