Superpedestrian launches LINK, expanding into shared e-scooter operations

Superpedestrian has launched LINK, its new shared micromobility division. LINK allows riders to rent Superpedestrian’s e-scooters using a smartphone.

Superpedestrian’s expansion into the shared micromobility space is fueled by the acquisition of Zagster’s micromobility fleet operations business and an investment of $15 million led by growth equity investor Edison Partners, with additional funds from existing investors Spark Capital and General Catalyst.

Founded in 2012 by CEO Assaf Biderman, Superpedestrian’s team has expertise designing micromobility vehicles, including the Copenhagen Wheel. Likewise, Zagster brings operational sophistication gained from experience managing bike and scooter share systems.

“Over the past three years, dozens of scooter operators have used cities as test labs. Unfortunately, many of them have failed that test. Equipment failures posed safety risks to riders and other road users, and both vehicles and businesses saw unnaturally short life spans, often leaving cities in the lurch,” said Emily Warren, Superpedestrian advisor and former Lyft and Lime policy executive. “Meanwhile, Superpedestrian invested several years in designing and testing an e-scooter platform that could stand up to sustained shared use. Micromobility is a critical tool for the future of sustainable cities, so I'm glad to see LINK combine proven vehicle technology and fleet management with a deep respect for city government,” 

LINK offers a safe and sustainable shared mobility service with custom technology to help improve the rider experience and effectively manage large fleets of vehicles in accordance with city needs.

Benefits include:

• Designed to work with cities. LINK collaborates with cities, developing solutions to encourage safe riding and protect shared public spaces. For example, LINK scooters can enforce geofences in less than one second thanks to onboard map storage, which enables the vehicle to bypass the vehicle-to-cloud lag and autonomously enforce a geofence. This also allows vehicles to safely slow to a stop before entering no-ride zones.
• Built for rider safety. LINK’s Vehicle Intelligence System (VIS) monitors the entire vehicle in real-time -- including a self-diagnostic check before each ride -- and proactively averting issues that could pose a safety risk down the line. The VIS continually monitors more than 140 indicators of vehicle performance per second, helping to address minor issues, including braking force, battery and thermal events, before they become major problems.
• Engineered to make business sense. Superpedestrian says its e-scooters last more than 2,500 rides and can travel up to 55 miles on a single charge.

“By combining industry-leading operations with Superpedestrian’s intelligent e-scooters, LINK is ushering in a new chapter for micromobility,” said Assaf Biderman, CEO of Superpedestrian. “Zagster developed the software and systems to support efficient day-to-day operations long before the Silicon Valley-funded micromobility boom. That’s why we tapped their expertise when it came time to launch this new platform. We’re excited to bring smart e-scooters to riders in the United States, Europe and around the world.”