Coetzee describes GoMetro as the app that delivers real-time train timetables, updates, line information and other key services to public transport users in South Africa.

Simnikiwe Mzekandaba, ITWeb Africa assistant editor spoke to Coetzee about the new mobile application that is reaching popularity status among the 19 million South Africans that use public transport.

SIMNIKIWE MZEKANDABA: Can you explain what GoMetro is?

JUSTIN COETZEE: The core product GoMetro is a mobile platform that delivers real-time train timetables, updates, line information and other key services to public transport users. It allows commuters to access all the information they require at the push of a button on their mobile phones by inputting their current and desired location. The algorithms and database behind the site will deliver the next six times, including predicted time of departure and arrival at destination. As the GoMetro system is integrated into Metrorail's control centre and train monitoring systems, the data is never older than 15 minutes.

SIMNIKIWE MZEKANDABA: And when was it launched?

JUSTIN COETZEE: September 2012. We secured a pilot project appointment with Metrorail, in February 2012 - launching the service within 6 months after the contract was awarded.

SIMNIKIWE MZEKANDABA: So what was your motivation to launch GoMetro?

JUSTIN COETZEE: GoMetro is a proudly green company aiming to facilitate decision-making for trip-taking, who aim to solve a very real pain point for commuters - the lack of commuter information from public transport, particularly Metrorail in South Africa. GoMetro delivers an innovative solution to solve the communication blackout of train delays. It was born out of a need to get workers to work on time and so save jobs, to allow mothers to fetch children from creche in the afternoon on time, for learners to get to school before the bell. GoMetro is working to give commuters dignity once again - and connect cities much more efficiently.

SIMNIKIWE MZEKANDABA: How has the response been like?

JUSTIN COETZEE: We are recording compound growth every month, so we are very excited about the scale we are entering.

GoMetro has been well-received by the industry, as we have won the mobile category of the Gauteng Innovation Competition in March 2012. GoMetro has received international attention, taking second place at the 2012 IBM SmartCamp Africa. We are now in the Top 40 African Startups at DEMO Africa 2013, which will be determined at the end of October 2013.

SIMNIKIWE MZEKANDABA: What has been the most popular feature of your service?

JUSTIN COETZEE: The ability to see what is happening in a network in real-time and provide operational information to commuters direct from the control centres of a transport mode. The commuter feels like there is a personal channel to a transport mode. The ability to be able to direct feedback at Metrorail directly and see resolution of complaints via a mobile channel is good.

SIMNIKIWE MZEKANDABA: What have you found to be the challenges of starting your business?

JUSTIN COETZEE: A lack of investor education in the market to increase the risk appetite of technology investments has really hampered the speed of growth of our product. The African marketplace currently favours clone startups and not bold, visionary startup.

SIMNIKIWE MZEKANDABA: Despite these challenges has GoMetro embarked on any partnerships?

JUSTIN COETZEE: We have partnered with other services and offers to enhance the commuting experience. We launched a music service with iRoking of Nigeria - to provide the best in Nigerian music to our commuters. We have also just launched a job listing portal with Graylink - to give our users the opportunity to find better opportunities and who knows, perhaps make their next trip a job interview. These are just two of the services that we have enabled through partnerships - and more are in the works.

SIMNIKIWE MZEKANDABA: How have those partnerships ensured that the service stays relevant and ahead of competitors?

JUSTIN COETZEE: The partnerships have allowed us to create more value for our commuters, and this has allowed us to stay relevant to commuters - who use our service every day.

SIMNIKIWE MZEKANDABA: Is Go Metro available in other countries outside South Africa?

JUSTIN COETZEE: We are launching the rest of Africa at DEMOAfrica in 2013 - so more details will come then. Can't say much more right now.

SIMNIKIWE MZEKANDABA: What are your future plans for Go Metro?

JUSTIN COETZEE: It would be really awesome for GoMetro to be able to increase the decision-making power of commuters in every city in the world. To have a presence and partnership with every transport mode in every city in the world is within our grasp. We are building GoMetro to scale quite quickly into new regions and cities.

SIMNIKIWE MZEKANDABA: How important is technology for African startups?

JUSTIN COETZEE: Technology evens the playing field for African startups. We might not have the VC funding landscape that US and Europe has, or the masses of consumers and buying power of Asia, but we have the same technology and quality of skills as any other region. Technology levels the playing field for us.