Why Go Green City chooses ATOM Mobility
October 10, 2022
min. read
“Being small allows Go Green City to be responsive and offer solutions tailored to a particular environment. Flexibility and agility are our advantages and that's why I wanted a software partner with the same qualities” – Jose Tavares, the founder and CEO of Go Green City, explains why he chose to partner with ATOM Mobility.
Launch date: August 2021
Country: Switzerland
Fleet size: 200 e-mopeds
Web page: https://go-greencity.ch
App Store: https://apps.apple.com/ch/app/id1583947739
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ggc.app
Jose began building Go Green City, a Swiss electric moped sharing company, with another well-known software provider on the market. Still, he quickly grew disillusioned after experiencing delays in communication and a generally passive attitude. Moving quickly is a key advantage of starting a new enterprise, and being held back by outside parties was unacceptable. This became clear early on in Jose's journey, when he was still just validating the viability of his solution.
“The initial partner company was just too big and took too long to react,” explains Jose. “I wanted a partner that can match my pace and with whom I could establish strong foundations for a long-term partnership.”
After tasking his son with finding an alternative provider, Go Green City quickly landed with ATOM Mobility as it met Jose's criteria – professional, responsive, and not too big. The two companies have been working together ever since, with a shared outlook toward the future, and, as they say, the rest is history.
It's not about getting from A to B, but rather from B to C
For Jose, Go Green City is about giving back. Having had a career in the automotive industry for most of his life, Jose wanted to create something that improves the lives of city folk and helps the environment. An electric alternative for urban last-mile mobility is his answer.
“We considered and tested electric car sharing and scooters, before landing on mopeds. The problem I wanted to solve was to get people from B to C. Not A to B, because I would compete against public transport and create more traffic and congestion. I firmly believe that public transport is the best and greenest solution that should serve as the backbone of urban transit,” says Jose. “That's why I'm focusing on a last-mile solution. My goal is to get people into the bus and then onto the electric moped, rather than replace the bus.”
Go Green City started operating in 2022 and today its 200 e-mopeds have done over 120,000 km inside the city with zero emissions. But for Jose, that's just the beginning. Looking to grow his fleet more than tenfold and launch next year in Portugal, Jose is steadily carving out his place in urban mobility through smart partnerships and sheer grit.
A one-man army
Jose has built Go Green City from the ground up almost single-handedly. Up until now, the company's operations were virtually 100% outsourced, save for the considerable efforts of Jose himself. “I've done my job when I can go on a vacation and everything runs smoothly without me,” Jose shares.
Today, Go Green City demands around 2 hours of Jose's time a day, but this is the result of 5 years of hard work and long nights. “To be a good leader, even to freelancers, you have to know every nook and cranny of the business and have to be willing to do the hard work yourself. You can't ask more of others than you do of yourself.”
Over the years, there have been a lot of hiccups – from vehicle hacks to delivery problems due to the Suez canal's blockage – but having trusted partners at your side and extensive industry knowledge helped Jose navigate all the ups and downs right up until the launch and beyond.
The launch of Go Green City happened without much fanfare. The idea was to launch smoothly and quietly, to avoid antagonizing competition and give citizens the opportunity to discover the advantages of Go Green City themselves. It was a tremendous success that was quickly amplified further through word-of-mouth marketing.
People were eager to engage with the new and convenient e-mopeds and became loyal customers once they discovered that it was the cheapest mobility option available. This also encouraged people to share feedback, all of which was quickly managed on the other end by Jose himself to further improve the service and foster a sense of community.
“I wanted people to feel heard and make them feel like a part of the business. That's why I always ended my communications with 'Thank you for being part of our club' and that really resonated with people.”
Nuggets of wisdom for aspiring entrepreneurs
After an illustrious 30-year career in the automotive industry and a strong start with Go Green City, Jose's advice to future entrepreneurs is “don't talk, just do it”. Don't tell people where you are going, but announce when you've arrived.
“Sharing your plans and ambitions will only make people question you and you'll spend a lot of energy and time arguing and justifying yourself to friends, family, and partners,” explains Jose. “Sometimes, don't even tell your wife”.
“People have amazing ideas and initiatives, but they seek validation and support from acquaintances who can never really give you what you need. Usually, they just make you question yourself. Instead, just do it. Try. Even if you fail, the most important thing is that you've learned and you'll do better next time,” concludes Jose.
Thanks to an alignment in business philosophies, ATOM Mobility and Go Green City collaborate like a well-oiled machine. And Jose can continue his entrepreneurial mission of improving the lives of travelers and contributing to the well-being of the environment.
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Case study
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Making corporate travel cool again: the story of MOBEO
In big cities, employees often want to avoid traffic and parking hassles, preferring an easier way to commute. Luckily, there are people ready to take on the challenge. Meet MOBEO – an innovative Spanish company that is not only transforming how we get around but also making corporate travel more exciting.
August 13, 2024
min. read
In big cities, employees often want to avoid traffic and parking hassles, preferring an easier way to commute. Luckily, there are people ready to take on the challenge. Meet MOBEO – an innovative Spanish company that is not only transforming how we get around but also making corporate travel more exciting.
We caught up with Álvaro Ventura, CEO of MOBEO, to get the inside scoop on how his company is creating corporate fleets and shaking up the world of business travel with a help from Atom Mobility.
Launch date: November 2023
Country: Spain
Web page: https://mobeosharing.com
App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mobeoshare/id6469049276
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=mobeoshare.app&hl=en_AU
Fleet: bicycles (incl. conventional, hybrid, mountain, electric bikes), pedal karts, and bicycles
for people with reduced mobility.
From two wheels to many
With 12 years of experience in the tourism industry, the MOBEO team identified an opportunity to expand their business by leveraging resources from their existing projects. This vision led to the creation of MOBEOsharing.com, a platform designed to meet the growing demand for employee transportation services. Their ambitious goal? To become the leading provider of shared private fleets for European businesses within five years.
MOBEO’s journey began with a self-funded investment of 70,000 euros, which laid a strong foundation for their operations. However, the team quickly recognized that additional capital would be essential for rapid expansion. They are now actively seeking investments to accelerate their entry into the European market and to help achieve their bold vision.
What makes MOBEO special
MOBEO’s mission goes beyond simply providing vehicles; they aim to transform how companies approach transportation. MOBEO works closely with clients to run campaigns that encourage employees to adopt greener travel options instead of relying on cars. Their comprehensive services include digital awareness campaigns, personalized commuting routes, and team-building events focused on sustainable transportation.
As Ventura, a key figure in MOBEO, explains, “Some clients go all-in with our full package, while others might just want us to handle the wheels. It’s like a buffet—take what you need!”. This flexibility allows MOBEO to cater to companies of all sizes and budgets, making them a preferred choice for businesses looking to modernize their transportation strategies.
On the software side, MOBEO relies on ATOM Mobility's digital rental solution, which provides MOBEO users (employees of companies that MOBEO partners with) the opportunity to create an account in the MOBEO app, upload their employee ID card (allowing the MOBEO team to verify that the individual is indeed employed by the specific company), and, once verified, gain access and pre-book vehicles for upcoming rides. The MOBEO app also features a calendar function, enabling users to schedule future bookings as needed. At the end of the month, MOBEO bills partners based on the usage of vehicles by their employees. All vehicle monitoring, unlocking, and locking are automatically managed by the ATOM Mobility platform. It’s that simple.
Targeting clients
MOBEO is strategically expanding its presence by focusing on large companies with offices in major Spanish cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, Zaragoza, Valencia, and Seville. These cities are particularly well-suited for introducing shared mobility solutions due to their large employee bases and the strong demand for sustainable transport options. On average, an employee takes a vehicle for 1-2 days and rides 10-40 km per booking.
Partnering with ATOM Mobility
In 2019, MOBEO began with a small software provider that met their initial needs but lacked the capacity for growth. Recognizing the need for a more robust solution, MOBEO partnered with ATOM Mobility—a decision that proved pivotal for scaling their operations.
ATOM Mobility, a leader in shared mobility software solutions, is known for its comprehensive platform and exceptional customer service. Their software empowers businesses like MOBEO to manage fleets efficiently, offer seamless user experiences, and scale operations smoothly. MOBEO frequently encountered positive feedback about ATOM Mobility during hardware discussions, prompting them to explore and eventually adopt ATOM Mobility's services.
This partnership has been instrumental in MOBEO’s success, providing them with the tools and support necessary to expand and innovate in the competitive European market.
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Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs: Be ready!
For those looking to enter the shared mobility sector, Ventura offers sage advice: “This industry is going places, but it’s not a walk in the park. Good financial planning is key because regulatory changes are like a rollercoaster ride—you’ve got to hang on and adapt quickly.”
The future of success
MOBEO is setting new standards for corporate mobility, thanks to their innovative approach and strategic partnership with ATOM Mobility. Together, they are on track to revolutionize how businesses manage transportation in Spain.
As MOBEO continues to pioneer advancements in corporate mobility, their collaboration with ATOM Mobility remains a cornerstone of their success. With shared values and a commitment to innovation, MOBEO and ATOM Mobility are poised to lead the transformation of business transportation across Europe.
Case study
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GreenGo chooses ATOM Mobility to power its electric car-sharing business
Electric car-sharing operator from Slovenia. Operates in 4 cities.
January 2, 2024
min. read
“We spent two years developing a car-sharing app in-house. And even after all our efforts it still wasn't half as good as ATOM Mobility's platform.” – Peter Mraz, GreenGo's Manager, shares how he found the perfect partner in ATOM Mobility.
Launch date: May 2021
Country: Slovenia, operates in 4 cities
Web page: https://greengo.city
App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/greengo-by-t2/id1618782932
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=greengo.app
GreenGo is a green vehicle-sharing company based in Slovenia that currently focuses on electric cars.
The company's story is unique in that it's a project that spun out from its parent company T-2, d.o.o., a local telecom provider with over 400 employees. T-2's owner was enthusiastic about green mobility and set out to bring his vision to life – and succeeded. Today, you can find GreenGo's Renault Zoes and Twingos, Cupra Borns, and VW ID.3s in four cities – Ljubljana, Kranj, Trzin, and Logatec.
However, the man who's running the show is Peter Mraz, GreenGo's Manager. While he does enjoy access to the parent company's resources, Peter is single-handedly overseeing the entire project and responsible for its success.
“I do have backup from designers, legal, accounting and so on. And there are maybe 3-4 people who help manage the cars and maintenance. Everything else – it's on me. Thanks to ATOM Mobility, I have been able to manage everything from project start to launch pretty much on my own,” says Peter.
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GreenGo's early challenges
Orginally, the idea was to develop the GreenGo car-sharing app in-house – a decision Peter grew to regret.
“It took us two years to develop the app. Even then, it did the job, but it wasn't perfect and it didn't quite go the way we wanted it to. And even after all our efforts it still wasn't half as good as ATOM Mobility's platform,” he shares.
Indeed, this ongoing struggle pushed GreenGo to explore alternative options on the market and, after some market research, they landed on ATOM Mobility. ATOM Mobility ticked their two most important checkboxes – it offered the core functionalities they required and offered fast time-to-market.
Originally“Once we made the switch, we launched in 3 months, though we did already have the cars at the ready, which certainly helped,” Peter continues.
Admittedly, ATOM Mobility didn't immediately fulfil all their needs.
“We had a very specific vision and requirements. ATOM Mobility was great, but didn't have everything we wanted when we started out. But the platform is evolving quickly. Their team develops something new every 2-3 months and it's very good for us. Since they develop for other companies, too, we also benefit from the updates. Now, ATOM Mobility has everything we need and more,” Peter says.
Still, early on, GreenGo were facing an uphill battle with fierce competition. Slovenia already had one high-profile electric car-sharing company that had established itself in the market, had more experience, and was well-respected among its customers and the general public.
What was GreenGo's strategy for finding a foothold in the ecosystem?
A brilliant idea for entering a busy market
GreenGo carved out its market share by leveraging a strategic partnership with Slovenian Railways.
“You see, a lot of tourists arrive in Ljubljana and other cities by train. Either internationally or from the airport. So we started off by placing our vehicles in railway stations, allowing us to be the easy choice top of mind for anyone arriving in the city,” Peter explains.
To further improve convenience for potential customers, GreenGo integrated ATOM Mobility with a local MaaS platform. This allowed people to purchase credits for GreenGo's car-sharing app through the city's own mobility solution.
Not only did this solidify GreenGo as the most accessible solution for any tourist who used the city's app to buy a train ticket, it also connected it to all the local residents that use the city's mobility app in their day-to-day.
Now, you'll find GreenGo in four cities and their customers love them, as suggested by the high app ratings and continuous positive feedback.
In most of the cities, they're using a station based model – where the cars need to be picked up and returned at certain points. However, in the capital they're currently running a hybrid model featuring both free-floating and station-based vehicle sharing.
GreenGo expects to have to switch to a fully station-based model in Ljubljana, too, as the city is pulling the brakes on free-floating vehicle sharing. But they're not too fussed, as this model is easier to manage and can be a better choice for a still-up-and-coming company.
Looking to the future – more vehicle types and a focus on B2B
As any company, GreenGo is eyeing growth and expansion.
“Our vision is to become a leading force in the sharing economy,” Peter highlights.
Expanding their fleet with different types of vehicles, specifically – electric micromobility solutions – is one of the avenues GreenGo is exploring.
In terms of business development, GreenGo has an interesting strategy for the upcoming year, namely, focusing on expanding into the business-to-business (B2B) segment with corporate sharing schemes.
“With B2C, you need a lot of cars, a lot of investment. Electric vehicles are very capital intensive, which poses challenges for a growing company. B2B offers the opportunity to make the maximum from your existing fleet, which will allow B2C expansion later on. Plus, we already have a sort of successful B2B pilot project under our belts,” says Peter, referring to a corporate sharing scheme they launched with their very own parent company.
They made four cars available to T-2 employees, which they can take out under certain conditions and packages for a few hours, a day, or a weekend. This sharing scheme proved to be very popular among employees, and Peter is certain other large companies will also be keen to test out this modern benefit for their workers.
With some ups and downs, GreenGo is steadily carving out its spot in the market.
What would Peter do differently if he had to do it all over again?
“Choose ATOM Mobility from day 1 and save everyone a lot of headaches and resources,” he laughs. “But, seriously, the time-to-market is so fast, I think you could launch a mobility company from zero in one month.”
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