Venture 313·Tech Founders to Watch 2026
Bhadala
Farai Gundan · Co-Founder & CEO
Fare payment infrastructure for transit systems that still run on cash, plus a way for employers to distribute transit benefits to staff.
Gundan is building payment infrastructure for transit systems that run on cash. Bhadala’s MyRideWallet pilot with the Regional Transit Authority, a $500,000 program with DDOT, SMART, SEMCA/GEM, LM Manufacturing and United Way, has now concluded and led to ATLAS, a platform for multi-modal fare payment that also lets employers manage and distribute transit subsidies as part of workforce development. The company works the same problem abroad, deployed into South Africa’s minibus taxi sector, where 15 to 17 million people commute daily, with Nedbank providing the banking rails, wallet infrastructure and ATM access that reach underbanked riders. Gundan led Flutterwave’s South Africa expansion before founding the company, and runs Bhadala from Newlab at Michigan Central.
Proof
- 01 · MyRideWallet pilot with RTA
- $500,000
- 02 · Daily commuters in market served
- 15–17M
- 03 · Banking and wallet partner
- Nedbank
Bhadala is one of ten companies recognized in Venture 313's Tech Founders to Watch for 2026, a sponsored feature in Crain's Detroit Business. Venture 313 is an initiative consisting of TechTown Detroit, ID Ventures and Detroit Development Fund.