A new turning point for Pony! Launched in 2017 in Angers (Maine-et-Loire, France), the electric bike and scooter rental service has just closed a €6 million fundraising round. Although cities like Paris recently banned free-floating scooters, it would seem that the young startup from Angers does not see this as a hindrance. On the contrary, the company is already present in 15 cities in France. Find out how this capital operation will enable it to expand its activities…
“The French champion”
Terms used to describe Pony, by the famous CEO of Free, Xavier Niel. Indeed, the startup from Angers has nothing to envy to international micromobility operators. The latter has multiplied “by 10 its turnover between 2019 and 2022”. It has also launched its services “in 13 new cities in the last two years” and now has 500,000 unique users in France, Belgium and Italy.
Over the past 24 months, we have proven the usefulness and popularity of our services in very different cities: large metropolises such as Brussels and Angers, small towns such as Bourges, and cities in the outer suburbs such as Evry-Courcouronnes. Everywhere, our services have met with great success and make life easier for residents who do not own a car.
PAUL-ADRIEN CORMERAIS – CO-FOUNDER AND CEO OF PONY
An exponential growth that convinced Epopée Gestion and its historical investors. Namely, Demeter Investment Managers and Aquiti Gestion. A craze that is also reflected in their business model, which is a hit, especially with cities. As an indication, out of 12 tenders, Pony has won 9.
A unique participative model in the world…
Unlike giants such as Tier Mobility or Lime, Pony stands out with its Adopt A Pony offer. An original model where each vehicle is the property of a private individual who recovers half of the revenue from each trip made. An investment for the owner estimated on average at 1090 euros for a scooter and 1790 for a bike. Pony’s special feature is that it takes care of the entire operation, including logistics, recharging and maintenance.
Adopt a Pony currently has over 1,800 owners in Europe. Often users of the service, they are residents convinced of the role that Pony has to play in the fight against climate change.
CLARA VAISSE, CO-FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF PONY
Thanks to this investment, Pony aims to equip all French and Belgian cities with more than 50,000 inhabitants. This objective should be accompanied by the launch of its own electric bicycle model. A production line that should soon be repatriated in Europe, with the hiring of about fifteen new employees.
