The startup pony from Angers is conquering Europe with its innovative ecomobility service

Winner of the European Startup Prize for Mobility, pony is expanding through Europe in 2021. The ecomobility startup was founded in Angers, Atlantic France, and develops an innovative, participatory and fast-growing economic model.

Adopt a pony! The startup from Angers runs public mobility sharing services with vehicles belonging to individuals: investors receive 50% of the revenues collected during each journey made with their bike or scooter. In December 2020, pony opened its new online shop (adoptapony.com) and raised over €1,3 million.

European Startup Prize for Mobility winner

The company’s motto is “Not just getting around, changing the way the world goes round”. An ambition awarded by the European Startup Prize for Mobility which was co-founded by Karima Delli (president of the Committee of Transport and Tourism in the European Parliament), the Boston Consulting Group and Via ID.

In January 2021, along with 550 applicant startups, pony presented its innovative solution. The panel of judges was composed of experts in the mobility sector and praised the originality of the business model, its environmental performance and innovativeness. Prior to experts validations, more than 10,000 citizens took part in the vote. 

Expanding development in European cities  

From March 4th 2021, Parisians can borrow one of the 500 pony bikes on the Vélopolitain. This structural, continuous and high-capacity network of secure bike lanes was introduced by Paris City Hall and cycling associations after the first confinement in France. Along subway lines 1 and 13, Parisians can now switch to ecomobility with a €1,90 fixed price, regardless of the duration of the location. pony has created the first public transport line in bikes! 

Additionally, thanks to an exclusive industrial partnership with Gouach, pony uses batteries with a 10 year lifetime. The company therefore claims it holds the lowest carbon footprint in the micro-mobility market. 

The service is available in several cities in France (Angers, Bordeaux, Grenoble, Paris), and the startup is now developing in Belgium (Liege, Brussels, Namur), the UK (Oxford), Portugal (Lisbon) and Italy (Turin). Many other cities should follow.