Naran raises $10M to finance mobility vehicles in Colombia, Peru

A mobility fintech founded by former Yango executives has closed a funding round to expand vehicle financing for gig economy drivers across Latin America and Africa, a move that could reshape workforce access and talent demand in markets where informal employment dominates and traditional credit remains out of reach.

Naran secures $10M to expand vehicle financing across Colombia, Peru, and Paraguay

Naran raised $10 million in combined equity and debt from UAE investment firm Landel, according to an announcement in August 2026. The round will fund fleet expansion in Colombia, Peru, Senegal, and Ivory Coast, while supporting the company's planned entry into Paraguay and new markets in the Middle East and North Africa region.

Founded by Bayaskhalan Alexeev and Alexander Gubarev, Naran operates a rent-to-own model that purchases vehicles directly from manufacturers and delivers them to independent drivers under payment plans ranging from 12 to 60 months. Both founders previously led ride-hailing operations for Yango in Latin America and Africa, giving them direct exposure to the financing barriers gig workers face in emerging markets.

The fintech currently operates in Colombia, Peru, and Senegal, offering motorcycles and cars with no credit history requirement, weekly payments, insurance, GPS tracking, and 24/7 support included. Naran partners with platforms including Yango and inDrive to connect drivers with income opportunities once they secure a vehicle.

Alexeev stated that the company addresses a gap in emerging markets where mobility platform drivers cannot access traditional bank loans due to irregular income or limited credit history. In sub-Saharan Africa, approximately 88 percent of employment is informal, creating structural obstacles to asset financing even as demand for mobility services grows.

How Naran's fleet expansion could reshape gig worker access and talent demand in LATAM

Naran's expansion carries direct implications for workforce planning and hiring talent in Colombia's mobility sector and neighboring markets. By 2030, the company plans to operate in 10 countries with a combined fleet of 10,000 automobiles and 20,000 motorcycles, targeting 30,000 income opportunities across emerging markets.

Latin America ranks among the most active ride-hailing markets globally. São Paulo and Mexico City generate the highest volume of Uber trips worldwide, underscoring the scale of gig economy participation in the region. Yet access to vehicles remains a bottleneck for drivers who lack upfront capital or formal credit histories, limiting labor supply even as platform demand expands.

Naran's model directly converts vehicle access into workforce participation. Each financed vehicle represents a potential new driver or delivery rider entering the gig economy, which in turn affects platform capacity, service availability, and competitive dynamics among mobility operators. For employers and platforms operating in these markets, increased vehicle availability could ease driver shortages, reduce onboarding friction, and stabilize service levels during peak demand periods.

The company has developed proprietary fleet management software that handles driver registration, payment scheduling, vehicle utilization monitoring, telematics, and maintenance. Naran now plans to offer this platform as a software-as-a-service product to external fleet operators, and may acquire operators outright in select markets. This pivot from asset owner to infrastructure provider could create new demand for technical talent in software development, data analytics, and fleet operations, particularly as the company scales across multiple countries.

For firms focused on fintech and gig economy recruitment across LATAM, Naran's trajectory signals growing need for professionals with expertise in asset-backed financing, telematics integration, and multimarket fleet operations. The company's planned entry into Paraguay and MENA markets will require local operations teams, compliance specialists, and partnership managers familiar with regulatory frameworks governing vehicle financing and gig work.

30,000 income opportunities: What Naran's growth signals for mobility hiring through 2030

Naran's target of generating 30,000 income opportunities by 2030 reflects broader labor market shifts in Latin America and Africa, where gig platforms increasingly function as primary income sources rather than supplemental work. The company's expansion into Paraguay will test whether its rent-to-own model can replicate in smaller markets with less mature ride-hailing ecosystems.

The fintech's decision to allocate part of the funding round to developing new fintech products suggests it may expand beyond vehicle financing into adjacent services such as insurance, fuel cards, or working capital loans. Each product line would require specialized talent in risk modeling, regulatory compliance, and customer support, creating hiring demand in markets where fintech expertise remains scarce.

For workforce planners and employers operating in Colombia, Peru, and other target markets, Naran's growth offers a proxy for gig economy expansion. As vehicle financing becomes more accessible, gig platforms may see increased driver supply, which could shift compensation dynamics, reduce driver churn, and alter recruitment strategies. Platforms that previously competed on vehicle access may need to differentiate on earnings potential, flexibility, or ancillary benefits.

Naran's infrastructure play also positions it as a potential partner or competitor to existing fleet operators and vehicle rental companies. If the company successfully transitions its software into a SaaS offering, it could consolidate fragmented fleet management across multiple markets, creating standardization in driver onboarding, vehicle tracking, and payment processing. This consolidation would likely accelerate demand for bilingual operations managers, customer success teams, and technical support staff capable of serving diverse geographies.

The company's ambition to operate across multiple markets implies significant operational complexity. Managing a distributed fleet across multiple countries requires localized maintenance networks, insurance partnerships, and recovery protocols for non-performing assets. These operational demands will drive hiring in logistics, field operations, and asset management, particularly in markets where Naran lacks existing infrastructure.

For employers tracking mobility and fintech trends in Latin America, Naran's funding round and expansion timeline offer a concrete benchmark for gig economy growth and the talent requirements that accompany it. As the company scales, its hiring patterns and operational challenges will provide insight into the skills, roles, and compensation structures needed to support asset-light mobility models in emerging markets. Firms seeking to hire in Costa Rica or other regional hubs may find opportunities to support Naran's expansion or compete for the same talent pools as the company builds out its regional operations and technology teams.