Swvl, a green-focused mass transit company, is going public via an all-female SPAC

Swvl, a green-focused mass transit company, is going public via an all-female SPAC

Dubai-based mobility company Swvl said Wednesday that it plans to go public through a reverse merger with Queen's Gambit Growth Capital. The special purpose acquisition company is led entirely by women. Founded in 2017, Swvl provides ridesharing services in emerging markets that don't always have reliable public transportation. Unlike ride-hailing services that focus on one-off and individual rides, Swvl focuses on mass transit. This both reduces emissions, and cuts the cost for what otherwise might be a prohibitively expensive ride. The company utilizes a proprietary algorithm to figure out the fastest routes, including for things like going to school or to work. The deal with Queen's Gambit values Swvl's equity at around $1.5 billion, making it the largest Middle East-based unicorn to debut on the Nasdaq. An expected closing date for the merger was not given, but once complete the company will trade under the ticker SWVL. Reverser mergers involve private companies going public by buying a controlling share of a public firm. Swvl currently operates in 10 cities across the Middle East and Africa, and it has its sights set on entry into new markets. The company's 2020 revenue was roughly $26 million, and Swvl expects that number to