Speedinvest is one of Europe’s most active early-stage investors, with more than €1bn AUM, 40 investors, and offices in Berlin, London, Munich, Paris, Vienna and San Francisco.  Your success is our priority, so we don’t just send some money and ''check in'' at board meetings. Our mission is to empower you with game-changing support through every stage of your journey.  Our focused investment teams know your industry inside and out. Their Deep Tech, Fintech, Industrial Tech, Network Effects, Digital Health and Subscriptions experience, know-how and deep networks are yours from day one.  You also have full access to our in-house Platform+ team of operational experts who can provide tailored growth marketing, people (HR), US business development, and networking support throughout every stage of your journey.

Speedinvest

Point Nine Capital is a Berlin-based venture capital firm focused exclusively on early-stage Internet investments in areas like Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), online marketplaces, and mobile. The fund and its managers, Pawel Chudzinski and Christoph Janz have backed a number of highly successful Internet companies such as Delivery Hero, Clio, Shiftplanning, Vend, Typeform, and Zendesk from their earliest stages.

Point Nine

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. provides investment banking, securities, and investment management services, as well as financial services to corporations, financial institutions, governments, and high-net-worth individuals worldwide. Its Investment Banking segment offers financial advisory services, including advisory assignments concerning mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate defense, risk management, and restructurings and spin-offs; and underwriting services comprising public offerings and private placements of a range of securities, loans, and other financial instruments, and derivative transactions. The company’s Institutional Client Services segment provides client execution services, such as fixed income, currency, and commodities client execution related to making markets in interest rate products, credit products, mortgages, currencies, and commodities; and equities related to making markets in equity products, as well as executes and clears institutional client transactions on stock, options, and futures exchanges. This segment also engages in the securities services business providing financing, securities lending, and other brokerage services to institutional clients, including hedge funds, mutual funds, pension funds, and foundations. Its Investing and Lending segment originates longer-term loans; and invests in debt securities, loans, public and private equity securities, real estate, consolidated investment entities, distressed assets, currencies, commodities, and power generation facilities. The company’s investment management segment provides investment products and services, as well as offers wealth advisory services, including portfolio management and financial counseling, and brokerage and other transaction services.

Goldman Sachs

Northzone is a multi-stage venture capital fund that seeks to invest in the healthcare, semiconductors, software, hardware, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and gaming industries.

Northzone

SoftBank Vision Fund is a subsidiary of Softbank Group that specializes in growth capital and social impact investments. Sectors that the fund invests in include the internet of things, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, communications infrastructure, telecoms, computational biology, biotech, cloud technologies and software, consumer internet businesses, financial technology, and mobile apps. The Fund is designed to be a catalyst for technology progress in anticipation that it will expand SoftBank's capabilities, accelerating progress towards SoftBank 2.0. It aims to invest in businesses and foundational platforms that SoftBank believes to revolutionize and innovate the world tomorrow.

SoftBank Vision Fund

Mubadala Investment Company is a sovereign investor managing a global portfolio, aimed at generating sustainable financial returns for its shareholder, the Government of Abu Dhabi. Mubadala’s US $229 billion portfolio spans five continents with interests in multiple sectors including aerospace, ICT, semiconductors, metals and mining, renewable energy, oil and gas, petrochemicals, utilities, healthcare, real estate, pharmaceuticals and medical technology, agribusiness and a global portfolio of financial holdings across all asset classes. Mubadala has offices in Rio de Janeiro, Moscow, New York, and San Francisco, with a joint venture in Hong Kong. Mubadala is a trusted partner, an engaged shareholder and a responsible global company that is committed to world-class standards of governance.

Mubadala

Kibo Ventures, based in Madrid (Spain) is a VC Fund focused on early-stage investments in digital companies.  Kibo Ventures manages $320 million from a mix of institutional and private investors, including IEF, Telefonica, the Spanish Government (through CDTI), Mutua Madrileña (Spain's largest insurance company) and Axis (ICO's 25 year-old private equity arm). Specifically, Kibo likes to invest in companies which combine exceptional and committed teams, aiming to digitalize a product or service in a big-enough market with international potential.  Kibo is managed by an experienced team of professionals with a solid track record, who are actively involved in the companies in which they invest.  Kibo follows a stage-investment approach and financially supports portfolio companies as they grow, whilst promoting co-investment from valuable investors.

Kibo Ventures

White Star Capital is a global venture capital fund and multi-stage technology investment platform investing in North America, Europe and Asia. It backs exceptional entrepreneurs globally, leveraging their extensive experience and networks to help them scale their businesses internationally. Operating out of New York, London, Montreal, Toronto, Paris, Tokyo and Hong Kong, its presence, perspective and people enable it to partner closely with Founders to help them scale internationally from Series A onwards.

White Star Capital

Market One Capital is an early-stage VC firm investing into platforms, infrastructure software, vertical SaaS and other tech with network effects across Europe.

Market One Capital

Indico Capital Partners is the leading independent Venture Capital firm in Portugal investing in global technology companies. Indico focuses on software as a service, artificial intelligence, internet of things, fintech, cybersecurity and digital companies, targeting investments at Seed to Series A level. Founded in 2017, the team at Indico were previously behind the majority of the Portuguese global tech success stories, as investors and entrepreneurs. Headed by the two most senior former Caixa Capital VC Team members, supported by a successful and experienced entrepreneur and a strong group of advisors, top entrepreneurs, they raised our first fund (authorized by the Portuguese Securities Market Commission - CMVM) from a cornerstone institutional investor (EIF) and international family/multi-family offices from Europe, US, and Australia. In addition to Silicon Valley, London, and Berlin, cities like Lisbon have emerging startup ecosystems. Portugal went through a difficult macro environment years ago which led to a growth in the entrepreneurship culture and investment. We have excellent tech graduates and a global mindset. Highly innovative companies like luxury eCommerce platform Farfetch, YC graduate machine learning translation platform Unbabel or the leading student accommodation marketplace Uniplaces have a strong Portuguese DNA and went to raise international rounds in the UK and the US - we want to back the next success stories of the ecosystem.

Indico Capital Partners

Goodwater empowers exceptional entrepreneurs everywhere to change the world for the better. They believe consumer technology is a force on earth, shaping culture and transforming the global economy at unprecedented speed and scale. They invest in promising entrepreneurs to solve pressing problems. As a combined force, Goodwater companies are a global force for change, poised to measurably improve billions of lives.

Goodwater Capital

AXA is an insurance company that provides a variety of financial services. Through initiatives such as AXA Hearts In Action, which focuses on solidarity-based efforts, and the AXA Research Fund, which addresses prevention issues, AXA demonstrates a commitment to its social responsibilities and engages in the fight against climate change. The firm offers a range of products, including property-casualty insurance, life insurance that includes savings and retirement options, health and personal protection solutions, as well as asset management services.

AXA Group

Evli Growth Partners is a European VC that invests in companies across sectors. The fund is truly entrepreneurial, backed by 5 serial entrepreneurs with hands-on experience in building and scaling several market leaders in their respective fields. With experience from +150 companies as founders, executives, or investors and an aggregate exit value in several billions of euros, EGP's team is equipped with unique expertise in building sustainable businesses.

Evli Growth Partners

Point9

RTP Global is a venture capital firm focused on early-stage technology investments. It supports young companies with strategic know-how and a broad global network. RTP Global has invested in companies founded in more than ten countries across Europe, Asia, and North America. Six early-stage investments became multi-billion public companies: Yandex, EPAM, Delivery Hero, RingCentral, Datadog, and Ozon. RTP Global has offices in New York, London, and Bangalore.

RTP Global

Novator is an alternative investment firm founded and led by the international investor and entrepreneur Thor Bjorgolfsson.  Novator's investment portfolio is focused around following sectors: Telecommunications, Pharmaceuticals, IT and Renewable Energy. In addition, Novator operates a Private Equity Fund and a Credit Opportunities Fund.  Novator focuses on developing strong management teams in each of its portfolio companies.  While granting them the autonomy to create value, Novator maintains a supervisory role, principally through representation on the Boards of its investee companies.   Novator differentiates itself from many other private equity companies in concentrating on complex situations, either by virtue of their structure or their cross-border nature. To create value, Novator undertakes the restructuring or ''de-risking'' of investment opportunities through re-financing, combining acquired assets with existing businesses, through sale to strategic or financial buyers, or through flotation.   Novator's investment portfolio is focused around four main sectors:Telecommunications, Pharmaceuticals, IT and Renewable Energy.

Novator

SOSV is a global, deep tech venture capital firm that operates the HAX and IndieBio startup development programs focused on human and planetary health. SOSV invests $500,000 in startups at their inception as they onboard either HAX or IndieBio for a 4-6 month period designed to accelerate the raise of their next institutional round. SOSV joins the later rounds of HAX and IndieBio graduates.  HAX, based in a 35,000 sq ft facility in Newark, NJ, is equipped with machine tools, 3D printers, chemical, electrical and mechanical engineering labs, as well as on-staff engineering and design experts. SOSV's IndieBio has locations in NYC and San Francisco, both of which offer extensive services and facilities to founders including on-site BSL-2 labs, well equipped lab benches and hoods, and advanced lab equipment, such as chromatography equipment.

SOSV

As a global company builder & early-stage investor headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, Mountain Partners manages more than 120 investments in the sectors of E-Commerce & Consumer Tech, Enterprise Tech, Media & Marketing, FinTech, InsurTech & PropTech, and HealthTech. As the digital revolution reaches more sectors and markets, Mountain Partners selects, builds, and develops young, disruptive technology companies. With a global network of international hubs, strategically located in emerging-market regions (Latin America, Middle East, Southeast Asia), Mountain Partners supports and finances companies in the early incubation phase, internationalizes proven business models, provides active local management, and finally exits the companies through acquisition or IPO.

Mountain Partners

M&G is an investment manager that puts people's investments to work to help them prosper. Their customers include individual savers and investors, members of pension schemes, and life insurance policyholders. They look for opportunities to invest, across a wide range of assets, on behalf of people who care how their money is invested.

M&G Investments

Founded in 2018, Stableton is an investment firm based in Zurich, Switzerland. The firm seeks to invest in growth stage tech-enabled companies operating in the cloud, enterprise software-as-a-service, consumer, information technology and fintech sectors. The firm has additional offices in Zug and Berlin.

Stableton Financial

TIER Mobility

SWING is a micro-mobility service provider.

TIER Mobility is a shared micro-mobility provider, with a mission to change mobility for good. The company provides a range of shared, light electric vehicles, from e-scooters to e-bikes and e-mopeds, powered by a proprietary Energy Network and helps cities reduce their dependence on cars. TIER is committed to being climate-neutral that will benefit the environment and also ensure a liveable and sustainable future. TIER was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in Berlin, Germany.

TIER is a Berlin-based shared micro-mobility provider that offers a range of light electric vehicles including e-scooters, e-bikes, and e-mopeds. Founded in 2018 by Lawrence Leuschner, Matthias Laug, and Julian Blessin, the company operates in over 400 cities across 21 countries in Europe and the Middle East as of 2024. TIER's platform allows for the integration of all micro-mobility assets, enabling strategic partnerships with public transportation providers and mobility companies like Sixt.

SoftBank-backed Berlin startup TIER Mobility takes a Spin to enter North America

Scooter startup Tier lays off 22% of workforce to reach profitability

Micromobility giant Tier lays off 22% of its workforce in push for profitability

based micromobility platform TIER Mobility acquires US

mobility giant; Mubadala, Prosus, others will back the JV with €60M

based TIER Mobility enters North America with the acquisition of Ford

Tier Mobility announces 22% lay-offs to achieve profitability

M2050, the weekly news of Mobility

Riding together toward a sustainable future

Shared Mobility

TIER

Tier Mobility’s Merger with Dott

SWING

Humax Holdings

Smilegate Investment

Hashed

MC Credit Partners

Sixt Rental Cars

To expand its integrated mobility platform ONE, SIXT has integrated TIER's e-mopeds, offering customers a wider range of transportation options through a single app.

Platforms that gives commuters access to transportation options such as bikes, scooters, segways, etc. that are designed for short distances, typically under 5 miles. The segment includes bike and scooter sharing services excluding hailing services.

TIER is a Berlin-based shared micro-mobility provider that offers a range of light electric vehicles including e-scooters, e-bikes, and e-mopeds. Founded in 2018 by Lawrence Leuschner, Matthias Laug, and Julian Blessin, the company operates in over 400 cities across 21 countries in Europe and the Middle East as of 2024. TIER's platform allows for the integration of all micro-mobility assets, enabling strategic partnerships with public transportation providers and mobility companies like Sixt.The company has made several acquisitions to expand its offerings and reach, including Italian market leader Wind Mobility, Europe's largest bikeshare player nextbike, and Ford-owned Spin in 2022. Through the Spin acquisition, TIER expanded to over 520 cities and communities across 21 countries with a combined fleet of 300,000 vehicles. However, TIER later sold Spin back to Bird in September 2023 for USD 19 million to focus on its European operations.TIER has also acquired Fantasmo, a startup building camera-based scooter parking validation technology, to develop an accurate e-scooter parking system and enhance rider safety features. The company aims to achieve environmental sustainability and efficiency through initiatives like modernizing its fleet with 100% swappable batteries.As of November 2023, TIER had improved its EBITDA from -62% in 2022 to be on track for -15% in 2023 and expected to be profitable on an annual basis in 80% of its markets, including Germany, the UK, and France by the end of 2023.

<div>
 
 Lyft is a technology company that provides an on-demand ride-hailing platform connecting passengers with drivers. The company operates a mobile app that allows users to request rides from nearby drivers using their personal vehicles. Lyft's primary offering is private rides, enabling passengers to book individual trips for transportation. In addition to rides, the company expanded into food and package delivery services in recent years.
 
 
 
 
 Lyft's business model relies on leveraging its network of independent contractor drivers who utilize the platform to accept ride requests. The company charges a commission on each completed trip, with the remaining fare going to the driver. Lyft has implemented various features within its app to streamline the ride experience, such as upfront pricing for passengers and in-app tipping for drivers.
 
 
 
 
 Lyft's technology facilitates the ride-hailing process by matching nearby available drivers with passenger requests, optimizing for factors like proximity and demand. The app leverages GPS tracking to provide real-time updates on driver locations and estimated arrival times. Passengers can rate drivers after each trip, contributing to the platform's safety measures.
 
 
 
 
 In terms of market presence, Lyft operates primarily in the US and Canada. As of March 2024, the company held a 24% market share in the US rideshare industry, trailing behind its larger competitor, Uber. Lyft's observed sales saw a 3% year-over-year increase in March 2024, though they have yet to surpass pre-pandemic levels.
 
 
 
</div>

Lyft

<div>
 
 Swvl is a global technology provider offering enterprise and government mobility solutions. The company's platform serves as an alternative to public transportation, enabling individuals who cannot access or afford private options to conveniently book rides on private buses and vans through a proprietary app. Swvl's parallel mass transit systems empower users to commute safely, efficiently, and in an environmentally friendly manner, with varied payment options available.
 
 
 
 
 As of July 2024, Swvl secured a significant 5-year contract worth up to USD 6.3 million with e&amp; Egypt, a leading telecom operator in the country. This partnership reinforces Swvl's presence in the Egyptian market and solidifies its position as a frontrunner in the mobility industry. Additionally, Swvl acquired Volt Lines in March 2024, marking its fourth acquisition since August 2023, following the acquisitions of Door2door, ViaPool, and Shotl in previous months.
 
 
 
 
 In May 2022, Swvl announced plans to reduce its headcount by 32%, focusing on roles that had been automated through investments in engineering, product development, and support functions. This restructuring effort aimed to achieve cash flow positivity by 2023. Swvl made its debut on the Nasdaq Stock Market on April 1, 2022, after merging with the blank-check company Queen's Gambit Growth Capital.
 
</div>

SWVL

Lime is a micromobility company offering shared electric bikes and scooters for short-term rentals in over 280 cities across nearly 30 countries. The company has been at the forefront of the micromobility revolution, providing a sustainable and emission-free transportation alternative for short-distance travel within urban areas. Its proprietary electric vehicles are designed and built in-house, ensuring longevity, safety, and operational efficiency.
In the first half of 2023, Lime reported gross bookings of USD 250 million, a 45% increase compared to the same period in 2022. The company achieved an adjusted EBITDA profitability of USD 27 million and an unadjusted profitability of USD 20.6 million during this period, reflecting a 45% margin improvement over the previous year. With its improved vehicle lifespans averaging five years and reduced operational costs, Lime has successfully optimized its unit economics.
Lime's strategic acquisition of Uber's Jump bikes and scooters in May 2020 solidified its position as the largest micromobility company globally. This move not only expanded Lime's operational reach but also provided a financial lifeline during the Covid-19 pandemic, enabling the company to weather the crisis and emerge stronger.

Lime

<div>
 
 Getaround is a peer-to-peer car sharing platform that connects car owners with individuals seeking rental vehicles. It operates a digital marketplace where owners can list their personal vehicles for rent on an hourly or daily basis. Renters have the convenience of accessing nearby cars through Getaround's mobile app, unlocking the vehicle using their smartphone without the need for a key exchange.
 
 
 
 
 Getaround's innovative technology includes the patented Getaround Connect device installed in listed cars. This device allows for contactless access, enabling renters to unlock the car directly from the app. It also provides insights into the vehicle's location, trip details, fuel levels, and security. The company's business model does not involve purchasing or maintaining a dedicated fleet of rental cars.
 
 
 
 
 Getaround allows car owners to monetize their underutilized personal vehicles, earning hundreds or even thousands of dollars per month by renting them out when not in use. The platform offers a diverse range of vehicle types, including sedans, SUVs, trucks, and specialty cars like Teslas. Rental costs can vary widely, starting from as low as USD five per hour for basic models to over USD 400 per day for luxury vehicles.
 
 
 
 
 Getaround provides comprehensive insurance coverage for both owners and renters during active trips. While the company takes a 40% commission from rental revenue, it handles various operational aspects, such as identity verification, damage protection, and customer support.
 
 
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 
 
 
 In March 2023, Getaround announced an expanded partnership with the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish over 100 dedicated car share locations across the city. This initiative aims to enhance mobility options, reduce traffic congestion, and promote sustainability by encouraging car sharing, particularly in underserved neighborhoods.
 
 
 
 
 Getaround has also collaborated with the City of Las Vegas, introducing dedicated parking spaces for its shared vehicles near transit hubs, downtown areas, and the Las Vegas Strip. Such partnerships with municipal authorities demonstrate the company's efforts to integrate seamlessly into urban transportation ecosystems.
 
 
 
 
 Additionally, Getaround offers a &quot;Drive with Uber&quot; program in select cities like Boston, San Francisco, and Atlanta. This partnership allows individuals without personal vehicles to book eligible cars from Getaround's platform and use them for rideshare services like Uber, providing a supplemental income opportunity.
 
</div>

Getaround

Bird is a micromobility company that operates shared electric scooter and bicycle services across cities worldwide. Its core offering involves deploying fleets of e-scooters and e-bikes that customers can rent through a mobile app for short urban trips as an alternative to driving or public transit. Bird's scooters are equipped with electric motors and can be unlocked and paid for via the company's app.
In its early years, Bird rapidly expanded into hundreds of cities by leveraging a dockless model where scooters could be parked anywhere. However, the company faced challenges with unit economics, as the relatively inexpensive scooter models had short lifespans and were prone to damage from heavy usage. Bird later transitioned to a model utilizing more durable, purpose-built scooters designed for longer lifecycles.
Despite being a pioneer in the shared micromobility space, Bird consistently struggled with profitability. In November 2022, the company admitted overstating its shared scooter revenue for at least two years due to improperly recording uncollected balances, requiring restatements of its 2020 and 2021 financials. Bird's cash crunch ultimately led to layoffs, market exits, and a bankruptcy filing in December 2023 to facilitate a sale of its US assets while its Canadian and European operations continued normally.
Prior to its bankruptcy, Bird reported having facilitated over 300 million trips globally as of December 2023, offsetting an estimated 90 million pounds of carbon emissions. In September 2022, Bird acquired rival Spin for USD 19 million, collectively operating across 350 cities at that time.

Bird

Short-term car rental platforms, often in the form of a marketplace, that allow users to rent a car by the hour, on-demand.

Platforms that facilitate carpooling on-demand, allowing drivers and passengers to organize shared rides with one another. Also includes those that offer pre-arranged car pooling services but excludes van and bus sharing services.

Platforms that connect passengers with personal drivers on-demand, for dedicated rides.

Platforms that offer multi-passenger/pooled shuttle buses or vans on-demand or a fixed schedule, including van and bus sharing

Solutions such as ride and car sharing promote efficient use of resources

Technological innovations into urban mobility systems such as micromobility

IoT provides apps with real-time information to facilitate ride hailing and other shared transport methods

TIER

Sources

About EDGE

Contact Us

Resources

Area of Focus

Technology Research Made Effortless