Business

Virgin founder Branson flags down a taxi app

Richard Branson feels he can make some green from New York City’s yellow cabs.

The knighted British mogul is one of several investors who pumped a total of $30.6 million into tech startup Hailo, which produces an app that locates nearby cabs, The Post has learned.

Half of Hailo’s latest funding round came from Union Square Ventures, which is led by city venture capitalist Fred Wilson.

Smaller pieces came from VCs like Accel Partners and individuals like Branson.

The app, which has been approved for use in cities from London to Toronto, is currently before the city’s Taxi and Limousine Commission — which is expected to approve the technology.

Folks simply tap the app and a participating nearby taxi is alerted and given the location.

Hailo, with offices in Hell’s Kitchen, is on pace to top $100 million in cab fares in the next 12 months, a number that would increase significantly if it could come online in New York, said CEO Jay Bregman.

The company collects a percentage of the fare. The percentage is set in deals worked out with Hailo.

Hailo said it already has about 2,000 of the city’s more than 13,000 cabs ready to pick up users of its app.

The latest round of funding brings to more than $50 million the amount of cash Hailo has raised.

“They’re making a big bet,” Bregman said of Wilson’s Union Square Ventures and the hope the VC has that the TLC approves the app and allows Hailo to punch the accelerator for growth.