Get All Access for $5/mo

This Promising Uber Rival Just Raised $120 Million Cabify is based in Spain but big in Latin America.

By David Meyer

This story originally appeared on Fortune Magazine

Cabify

The Spanish Uber competitor Cabify, which is currently expanding in Latin America, has raised a $120 million Series C round of investment.

The round values the on-demand ride-hailing firm at $320 million. It was led by the Japanese web giant Rakuten, which put a fresh $92 million into Cabify -- on top of the $3 million it invested last year. Before Wednesday, Cabify had reportedly raised less than $30 million.

Cabify operates in Spain, Chile, Peru, Mexico and Colombia. Indeed, in Latin America it stands alongside Uber as a focus for the ire of traditional cab companies.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Rakuten is interested in Cabify's Latin American presence and "willingness to work with regulators." Cabify, meanwhile, is keen on forging alliances with car manufacturers, althoughTechCrunch reported that no such companies participated in the current funding round.

Rakuten is also an investor in Lyft, Uber's best-known competitor. It participated in a much larger $1 billion round for Lyft at the start of this year, which valued Lyft at $5.5 billion. Uber raised funding at the end of 2015 at a valuation of $62.5 billion, although investment firm T. Rowe Price recently marked down its Uber investment by 6 percent.

Cabify remains small fry on the international scale for now. That said, Rakuten clearly sees something in its regional strength.

Cabify CEO Juan de Antonio told TechCrunch that he was open to striking partnerships with other big regional players.

There is indeed a big anti-Uber alliance that takes in Didi Kuaidi (China), Lyft (U.S.), Ola (India) and GrabTaxi (South-East Asia). Perhaps Cabify could end up filling the gap in that alliance for Latin America.

David Meyer is a writer based in Berlin.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Starting a Business

He Started a Business That Surpassed $100 Million in Under 3 Years: 'Consistent Revenue Right Out of the Gate'

Ryan Close, founder and CEO of Bartesian, had run a few small businesses on the side — but none of them excited him as much as the idea for a home cocktail machine.

Business Solutions

Get Down to Business with Lifetime Access to Microsoft Office 2021 for Mac for 70% Off

Unlock essential Office tools with a one-time purchase — ideal for entrepreneurs and professionals looking to streamline their workflow.

Business News

Looking for a Remote Job? Here Are the Most In-Demand Skills to Have on Your Resume, According to Employers.

Employers are looking for interpersonal skills like teamwork as well as specific coding skills.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Franchise

The Top 10 Coffee Franchises in 2024

From a classic cup of joe to a creamy latte, grab your favorite mug and get ready to brew up success with the best coffee franchises.

Business News

'Do You Sell Cars?': Tesla CEO Elon Musk Trolls Jaguar Rebrand on X

The team running Jaguar's X account was working hard on social media this week.