Zenbus
Zenbus provides a lightweight SAEIV platform delivering real-time public transit vehicle tracking, passenger information, analytics and open-data feeds (GTFS/GTFS-RT/SIRI) to transit authorities and operators in France and selected international markets, distributed via direct sales and public-procurement frameworks.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersNantes, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Zenbus does
Zenbus is a French SaaS company that provides a lightweight SAEIV (Système d'Aide à l'Exploitation et à l'Information Voyageurs) platform for real-time public transit vehicle tracking and passenger information. Headquartered in Nantes with offices in Paris and a sales presence in Strasbourg, the company serves public transit authorities (autorités organisatrices) and operators in France and selected international markets including Quebec. Its four-module product suite — ZenbusCollect (driver data collection via smartphone GPS), ZenbusLive (real-time passenger information), ZenbusAnalytics (schedule adherence reporting) and ZenbusAPI (standardized GTFS/GTFS-RT/SIRI feeds for MaaS integration) — operates as a data pipeline from vehicle production through open-data distribution, with no dedicated on-board hardware required for many deployments.
The company monetizes via annual subscription licensing of the full SAEIV platform on a quote-based model, complemented by implementation and professional-services revenue for deployment, configuration and ongoing support. Distribution is a hybrid of direct enterprise sales (Nantes, Paris, Strasbourg) and public-procurement channel partnerships, most notably being referenced by the CATP (Centrale d'Achat du Transport Public) framework since September 2024 and listed on the UGAP multi-publisher software framework since 2019. Named customers span regulated urban networks (SEMITAN in Nantes, Lignes d'Azur in Nice), private operators (Keolis Thiers, Transdev Verdun), tourism shuttles (Open Tour Paris), ski resort transport (Tignes), and school fleet operators (Lacroix Savac / Groupement Lacroix Savac via Zenbus Box).
Zenbus is privately held as a SAS with three co-founders — Julien (CEO, former Deputy CIO at SNCF), Lionel (CTO, Polytechnique graduate and patent co-inventor) and Ulric (CFO, serial entrepreneur) — and reported capital social of €761,536. The platform powers 200+ transit networks, 4,000+ vehicles and 35,000+ monitored stops, with 65% of open French transit datasets on the national PAN, and integrates with Google Maps and MaaS platforms through standardized feeds.
Zenbus firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Zenbus
- Legal name
- SAS Zenbus
- Website
- https://zenbus.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Zenbus provides a lightweight SAEIV platform delivering real-time public transit vehicle tracking, passenger information, analytics and open-data feeds (GTFS/GTFS-RT/SIRI) to transit authorities and operators in France and selected international markets, distributed via direct sales and public-procurement frameworks.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Zenbus industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Transit Software
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Transportation (488), Other Support Activities for Transportation (4889)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Transit MaaS Integration Platforms (GTFS/RT, APIs, Real-Time Ops Feeds) (THADALAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Transit, Traffic & Mobility Data Platforms (BPAMANAH), Mobile Ticketing & Digital Pass Apps (THAIAMAB)
Keywords
Where Zenbus is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nantes
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Zenbus business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- SAEIV Platform Subscription: Annual subscription licensing of the complete SAEIV platform including data collection, real-time display, analytics, and API access. Pricing appears quote-based as no public pricing is listed on the website.
- Implementation and Support Services: Professional services for deployment, configuration, and ongoing technical support for transit networks implementing the Zenbus platform.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Enterprise subscription for transit authorities and operators |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Zenbus product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Zenbus provides a lightweight SAEIV (Système d'Aide à l'Exploitation et à l'Information Voyageurs) platform for public transit, comprising four integrated modules: ZenbusCollect captures real-time GPS data from vehicles and drivers via a smartphone app; ZenbusLive displays live vehicle positions and estimated arrival times for supervision and passenger information; ZenbusAnalytics reports on schedule adherence and operational performance; and ZenbusAPI distributes standardized GTFS-RT and SIRI open data feeds for integration with MaaS platforms such as Google Maps. The solution is sold to transit authorities and transport operators as an annual subscription.
Product overview
Zenbus is a next-generation lightweight SAEIV (Système d'Assistance à l'Exploitation d'Informations Voyageurs / Automated Vehicle Location System) focused on data-driven public transit. The platform consists of four integrated modules: ZenbusCollect handles vehicle and driver data collection via GPS tracking and a driver mobile app; ZenbusLive provides real-time passenger information display with live vehicle visualization; ZenbusAnalytics delivers statistical analysis of service performance; and ZenbusAPI distributes standardized GTFS-RT and SIRI data for MaaS platform integration. The product portfolio follows a data pipeline architecture from production through processing to display and open data distribution.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ZenbusCollect: Vehicle data production and driver app for public transit operators
- ZenbusLive
- ZenbusAnalytics
- ZenbusAPI
- ZenbusBox
Products and services
- ZenbusCollect Vehicle and driver data collection module that captures real-time GPS position data from vehicles and drivers via a smartphone app. Includes advance/delay tracking and passenger counting options for operational management of transit networks.
- ZenbusLive Real-time passenger information display system providing live vehicle tracking visualization and estimated arrival times to help regulate transit operations and inform passengers. Compatible with GTFS, GTFS-RT, and SIRI standards.
- ZenbusAnalytics Statistics and reporting module that analyzes schedule adherence and helps identify operational issues in the field, enabling transit authorities to evaluate service performance.
- ZenbusAPI Open data access module providing standardized GTFS, GTFS-RT, and SIRI feeds for integration with MaaS platforms and third-party applications, enabling real-time transit data distribution. Documentation available at zenbus.fr/en/zenbusapi/.
- ZenbusBox Hardware data collection solution for school and private transit network fleets, providing real-time tracking data outside the core smartphone-based Zenbus platform.
Quantifiable outcome
- 60% reduction in customer complaints
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Zenbus
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Zenbus technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
AI capability1 record
Feature5 records
Zenbus partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CATP (Centrale d'Achat du Transport Public)coreSince September 2024, Zenbus is referenced by CATP (Centrale d'Achat du Transport Public). This partnership facilitates access to Zenbus solutions for public transit authorities and operators in France through established procurement channels.
- UbitransportcoreTechnological partnership announced at RNTP 2019 in Nantes. Ubitransport and Zenbus collaborate to provide integrated solutions to the French public transit market.
- UGAPcoreZenbus is listed on the UGAP framework contract for multi-publisher software, enabling French public sector entities to procure Zenbus solutions through the UGAP purchasing platform.
- VentrataminorCollaboration announced between Ventrata and Zenbus to better serve their respective customers in the transit/tourism sector.
- transport.data.gouvcoreZenbus participates in the transport.data.gouv ecosystem as a data producer for the French National Access Point (PAN) for open transit data, contributing 65% of open transit datasets.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Zenbus competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- INIT: INIT (Innovative Informatik für den öffentlichen Nahverkehr) is one of Europe's leading heavy SAEIV/AVL and fleet management software vendors for public transit. It competes with Zenbus for the same transit authority customers but typically at larger network scale with dedicated on-board hardware.
- IVU Traffic Technologies: IVU Traffic Technologies is a German provider of integrated software for public transit planning, operations, and passenger information. It overlaps with Zenbus in real-time passenger information and dispatch, serving larger urban and regional networks across Europe.
- Trapeze Group (Modaxo / Volaris): Trapeze Group, part of Modaxo (Volaris), is a global incumbent in public transit ITS including CAD/AVL, fixed-route scheduling, and passenger information. It competes with Zenbus in the SAEIV space, typically at larger North American and European transit agencies with full-stack deployments.
- Cubic Transportation Systems: Cubic Transportation Systems is a major global provider of transit fare collection, real-time passenger information, and traffic management. It competes with Zenbus in PIS/AVL at large transit authorities, but with a heavier, hardware-centric architecture and broader portfolio.
- Siemens Mobility (ITS / Yunex Traffic): Siemens Mobility, including Yunex Traffic, is a large incumbent in transit and traffic management software, including AVL and passenger information. It competes with Zenbus in larger-scale transit deployments, with a broader portfolio spanning signaling and traffic.
Direct peers
- Padam Mobility: Padam Mobility is a French software platform for on-demand transit, microtransit, and mobility-as-a-service, serving French and European transit authorities and operators. It is comparable to Zenbus as a French digital mobility SaaS vendor targeting the same autorité organisatrice buyers with cloud-native tooling.
- Instant System: Instant System is a French MaaS and digital mobility platform providing ticketing, real-time information, and mobility apps to transit authorities and operators. It directly competes with Zenbus in the French public transit digital stack and targets the same autorité organisatrice segment.
- Cityway (Transdev): Cityway is a French passenger information, journey planner, and MaaS provider owned by Transdev. It directly competes with Zenbus in providing digital passenger information and mobility platforms to French transit authorities and operators.
Emerging players
- Optibus: Optibus is an AI-powered transit operations and scheduling platform used by public transit agencies and private operators globally. It overlaps with Zenbus in serving modernized transit operators with cloud software and analytics, though Optibus focuses on scheduling/optimization rather than real-time vehicle tracking.
Others
- Moovit: Moovit is a global MaaS app and transit data aggregator that consumes standardized feeds (GTFS-RT) similar to what Zenbus produces. It is thematically related as a participant in the same open transit data ecosystem that Zenbus supplies, though it sits downstream on the consumer-facing side.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Zenbus social profiles
Digital presenceZenbus financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Zenbus leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Zenbus funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Zenbus M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Zenbus
What does Zenbus do?
Zenbus provides a lightweight SAEIV (Système d'Aide à l'Exploitation et à l'Information Voyageurs) platform for public transit, comprising four integrated modules: ZenbusCollect captures real-time GPS data from vehicles and drivers via a smartphone app; ZenbusLive displays live vehicle positions and estimated arrival times for supervision and passenger information; ZenbusAnalytics reports on schedule adherence and operational performance; and ZenbusAPI distributes standardized GTFS-RT and SIRI open data feeds for integration with MaaS platforms such as Google Maps. The solution is sold to transit authorities and transport operators as an annual subscription.
Is Zenbus a public or private company?
Zenbus is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Zenbus founded?
Zenbus was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Zenbus based?
Zenbus is headquartered in Nantes, France, in the Europe region.
How does Zenbus make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. SAEIV Platform Subscription is the primary driver. The others are implementation and Support Services.
Who are Zenbus's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are INIT, IVU Traffic Technologies, Trapeze Group (Modaxo / Volaris), Cubic Transportation Systems and Siemens Mobility (ITS / Yunex Traffic). Direct peers are Padam Mobility, Instant System and Cityway (Transdev). Optibus is listed as an emerging player. Moovit is listed as an others.
Does Zenbus have an API?
Yes. ZenbusAPI provides open data access including GTFS, GTFS-RT, and SIRI feeds for real-time vehicle tracking data. The API enables integration with MaaS platforms and supports real-time passenger information system data. It powers third-party applications with access to transit network data including vehicle positions and estimated arrival times. Developer documentation is at zenbus.fr/en/zenbusapi.
What industry is Zenbus in?
Zenbus's product category is Public Transit Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THADALAE, Public Transit MaaS Integration Platforms (GTFS/RT, APIs, Real-Time Ops Feeds), with a secondary code of BPAMANAH, Transit, Traffic & Mobility Data Platforms. Its NAICS code is 488 and its SIC code is 7372.