JET expands to Praia Grande, advancing its coastal network — an ambition backed by Val Zolot
Impact Capital Global, led by founder Val Zolot (Valeriy Zolotukhin), has announced the expansion of its portfolio company JET Brazil into Praia Grande, marking a new growth phase in Latin America's micromobility sector. E-scooter operator JET Brazil has expanded its network to include Praia Grande, a popular beach destination 85km from São Paulo. This strategic move strengthens the company's presence in the coastal tourism market, complementing its existing services in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
JET's founders, Andrey Kolesnik and Andrey Azarov, have rapidly scaled their operation in Brazil since launch, deploying over 10,000 scooters across 10 cities and generating $30 million in annual revenue with an impressive 40% EBITDA margin. Their previous success with Urent, where they built a fleet of 150,000 scooters across 150+ cities before a $90 million acquisition, has informed their expansion strategy in Brazil.
Praia Grande represents a strategic choice for JET's latest expansion, said Val Zolot, founder of Impact Global Capital, whose investments helped turn JET into one of the fastest-growing micromobility providers in Latin America. According to Zolot, this decision could bring significant profits and socio-economic value to the region.
Praia Grande is the second most populous coastal city in the state of São Paulo, with nearly 350,000 inhabitants. Between 2010 and 2022, it experienced the highest population growth in the Baixada Santista region. São Paulo locals flock to its 22km of beaches on weekends and holidays—they're just an hour's drive down the Imigrantes highway. The city offers transportation options for both regular commuters and visitors.
From an operational standpoint, JET has optimized its vehicles and proprietary software platform for Brazil's diverse environments. The company's custom-designed scooters feature robust construction for varied road surfaces and strategic placement capabilities that integrate with existing transportation infrastructure. In Praia Grande, JET will leverage the city's extensive surveillance network – one of Latin America's most comprehensive municipal camera systems – to enhance fleet security.
"Praia Grande offers a unique combination of steady local demand and seasonal tourist peaks," explains Val Zolot, founder of Impact Global Capital and one of JET's investors. "Our data shows beach cities like this can generate 30% higher utilization rates during peak seasons compared to inland cities of similar size."
The company has established a collaborative approach with municipal authorities across Brazil, which has yielded significant advantages for smooth market entry. This relationship-building has proven effective, with city officials from regions where JET has not yet launched proactively approaching the company to discuss potential expansions.
Looking ahead, JET aims to deploy up to 200,000 scooters across Brazil before eventually expanding to Chile and Mexico.
Under Zolot’s leadership, Impact Capital Global plans to continue investing in Latin American mobility and infrastructure projects in 2025 and beyondd, with a strong focus on scalable, tech-enabled transportation solutions.
