99, formerly known as 99Taxis, is a vehicle for hire company operating in Brazil. It is owned by DiDi.
 | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Vehicle for hire |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Headquarters | , Brazil |
Area served | ~500 Brazilian cities[1] |
Key people | Tony Qiu, CEO |
| Products | 99 POP, 99 Táxi, 99 Táxi TOP (limited), 99 Comfort, 99 Food |
| Services | Taxicab, Vehicle for hire |
| Parent | DiDi Chuxing |
| Website | 99app |
History
Launched in 2012 servicing São Paulo, the company has expanded since then to other regions. It was founded by Paulo Veras, Renato Freitas and Ariel Lambrecht.[2]
In January 2017, 99 received funding by DiDi.[3][4] The funding allowed 99 to open more positions, and deal with competitors.[5] In May 2017, another round of investments, led by SoftBank, raised US$100 million.[6]On January 3, 2018, DiDi purchased the remainder of 99[7] for an undisclosed amount, but rumored to be at US$600 million,[8] making 99 Brazil's first so-called "unicorn", i.e., a startup company valued at over US$1 billion.[9]