The startups rolling out of Europe’s early-stage micromobility scene

Summary

Early-stage micromobility has shifted over the last few years. The cowboy antics of e-scooter companies causing chaos in a bid to scale has faded along with those fat venture checks that are now flowing to AI startups. Tighter capital combined with an existential need to create sustainable business models has produced a new crop of micromobility startups. This week, I attended Micromobility Europe in Brussels, where I toured the conference’s so-called “Startup Arena” to get a sense of what Europe’s early-stage micromobility ecosystem was bringing to the table. Many of the companies I spoke to are trying to fill the gaps of this industry – whether it’s through fleet management software, parking, or charging. Some, though, are just building the vehicles they wanted to ride. All of them represent the next phase of the ever-evolving micromobility industry. Convoy Image Credits:Convoy E-cargo bikes are often marketed as making parents’ lives easier, but most are heavy, bulky, and expensive. UK-based Convoy, which was founded in 2023, is trying to surpass those obstacles with a clip-on cargo conversion kit for bikes and e-bikes that can carry up to two small children. The team behind Convoy has a diverse background that ranges from femtech and e-bikes to the ex-CEO of Dyson. “We have worked together for 10 years building the first hands-free wearable breast pump,” Tatiana Escobar-Peake, Convoy’s chief revenue officer, told TechCrunch. “For a decade, we have been obsessing over why life for new parents has to be so miserable?” Convoy’s attachment fastens easily to the back wheel of an existing bike, stores easily, and only weighs about 26 pounds. It offers a 250-watt motor that turns pedal bikes into e-bikes, as well as rear-wheel steering preserves the turning circle of the bike. Convoy is launching pre-orders for the €2,200 ($2,500) trailer next week. The startup has raised modest funding and secured enough demand from European distributors this year to start thinking ab...