Here at Startup Savant, we love startup culture. That’s why we identified the most exciting, innovative, and creative mobility startups to watch in 2024 and beyond. From ebike subscriptions to smart city parking management solutions — these are the top mobility companies to follow.
Top Mobility Startups to Follow
Every year, new startups pull to the forefront of their industry through exciting innovation and industry-disrupting business models. We’ve rounded up the most exciting mobility startups of 2024 that startup lovers, investors, and aspiring entrepreneurs should follow.
Disclaimer: With so many exciting mobility companies launching and growing worldwide, we aren’t able to cover them all. Furthermore, the startups that are listed below are not officially ranked and are listed in no particular order.
1. Alto
- Location: Dallas, Texas
- Founder(s): Boris Blanche, Patrice Crisinel, Will Coleman, Alex Halbardier
- Founded In: 2018
- Funding: Series B, $62.4 Million
- Investors Include: Tuesday Capital, Goff Capital, Alumni Ventures
Alto is a premium ride-hailing service that aims to elevate the traditional rideshare experience. Founded in 2018, the company operates a fleet of luxury vehicles driven by fully employed, trained drivers rather than gig workers. Alto emphasizes safety, consistency, and a high-end experience, offering features like in-vehicle Wi-Fi, curated music playlists, and the ability to customize cabin settings. The company currently operates in several major US cities and continues to expand its services.
2. DEFCON AI
- Location: McLean, Virginia
- Founder(s): Grant L. Verstandig, Paul Selva, Yisroel Brumer
- Founded In: 2022
- Funding: Seed, $44 Million
- Investors Include: Bessemer Venture Partners, Red Cell Partners, Fifth Growth Fund
DEFCON AI is a technology company that specializes in artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for the mobility and transportation industry. The company develops AI-powered software to optimize fleet management, enhance route planning, and improve overall operational efficiency for various mobility services. DEFCON AI’s tools are designed to help ride-hailing companies, public transit agencies, and other transportation providers make data-driven decisions and adapt to real-time conditions.
3. Spare
- Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
- Founder(s): Alexey Indeev, Josh Andrews, Kristoffer Vik Hansen
- Founded In: 2015
- Funding: Series A, $35.9 Million
- Investors Include: Ridge Ventures, Link VC, Kensington Capital Partners
Spare is a transportation technology company that provides software solutions for on-demand and flexible transit services. The company’s platform helps transit agencies, operators, and cities optimize routing, scheduling, and dispatching for various transportation modes. Spare aims to make public transportation more efficient and accessible through its technology.
4. Vammo
- Location: São Paulo, Brazil
- Founder(s): Jack Sarvary, Billy Blaustein
- Founded In: 2022
- Funding: Series A, $44 Million
- Investors Include: Climate Capital, Construct Capital, Monashees
Vammo is an innovative mobility startup that focuses on revolutionizing last-mile transportation in urban areas. The company offers a fleet of compact, electric vehicles that can be easily accessed through a mobile app, providing an eco-friendly alternative to traditional ride-hailing services. Vammo’s unique approach combines the convenience of personal transportation with the sustainability of shared mobility. This startup’s goal is to reduce traffic congestion and emissions in cities while offering users a fun and efficient way to navigate short distances.
5. CloudTrucks
- Location: San Francisco, California
- Founder(s): George Ezenna, Jin Shieh, Tobenna Arodiogbu
- Founded In: 2019
- Funding: Series B, $141.6 Million
- Investors Include: Tiger Global Management, Kindred Ventures, Craft Ventures
CloudTrucks empowers independent truck drivers and small fleet owners with digital tools to run their businesses more efficiently. The company’s platform provides an all-in-one solution for trucking operations, including load booking, route optimization, and real-time earnings tracking. CloudTrucks also offers financial services tailored to the trucking industry, such as instant payments and cash flow management tools. By leveraging technology, CloudTrucks aims to increase profitability for truckers and bring more transparency to the logistics industry.
6. Motorway
- Location: London, England
- Founder(s): Alex Buttle, Harry Jones, Tom Leathes
- Founded In: 2017
- Funding: Series C, $276.1 Million
- Investors Include: Index Ventures, ICONIQ Growth, Founder Collective
Motorway is an online marketplace that’s transforming the way people sell their used cars in the United Kingdom. Unlike traditional car-selling methods, Motorway allows car owners to auction their vehicles to a network of verified car dealers to ensure competitive pricing and a quick sale process. The company uses advanced algorithms to provide instant valuations and match sellers with the most suitable buyers. Motorway’s innovative approach streamlines the often complex and time-consuming process of selling a used car, offering both convenience to sellers and efficiency to dealerships.
7. Way
- Location: Fremont, California
- Founder(s): Bhumi Bhutani, Binu Girija
- Founded In: 2015
- Funding: Debt Financing, $15.7 Million
- Investors Include: Agnus Capital, Freenix Venture Partners, Manik Gupta
Way has developed an all-in-one driving platform designed to streamline the experience of car ownership and usage. The company’s mobile app integrates various aspects of vehicle management, including maintenance scheduling, fuel or charging tracking, parking assistance, and even insurance management. Way’s platform also incorporates features like trip planning, real-time traffic updates, and personalized driving insights to help users optimize their driving habits. By centralizing these services, Way aims to simplify car ownership and make driving more efficient and cost-effective for modern consumers.
8. Miles
- Location: Silicon Valley (Redwood City, California)
- Founder(s): Jigar Shah, Paresh Jain, Parin Shah
- Founded In: 2016
- Funding: Series B, $20 Million
- Investors Include: Liil Ventures, Scrum Ventures, TechNexus Venture Collaborative
Miles is a unique rewards platform that incentivizes eco-friendly transportation choices. The app tracks users’ travel across various modes of transport, including walking, cycling, public transit, and even carpooling, and then awards them points based on the distance covered and the sustainability of their chosen method. Users can redeem these points for rewards from partnering brands, creating a tangible incentive for greener mobility choices. Miles aims to shape urban mobility patterns by encouraging people to opt for more sustainable transportation options in their daily lives.
9. Cowboy
- Location: Brussels, Belgium
- Founder(s): Adrien Roose, Karim Slaoui, Tanguy Goretti
- Founded In: 2017
- Funding: Convertible Note, $149.8 Million
- Investors Include: Exor Ventures, TriplePoint Capital, Tiger Global Management
Cowboy is a Belgian ebike manufacturer that’s revolutionizing urban commuting with its sleek, connected electric bicycles. The company’s bikes feature a minimalist design with integrated technology, including a smartphone-connected dashboard, built-in lights, and theft detection. Cowboy’s proprietary powertrain provides a smooth, intuitive riding experience that adapts to the rider’s needs. By combining cutting-edge technology with elegant design, Cowboy aims to make ebikes an attractive alternative to cars for urban commuters while promoting healthier and more sustainable cities.
10. The Lasso
- Location: New York, New York
- Founder(s): Nate Mihalovich, Mike Allen
- Founded In: 2020
- Funding: Series A, $11.7 Million
- Investors Include: Liquid 2 Ventures, Everywhere Ventures, Manresa Ventures
The Lasso is an innovative platform focused on revolutionizing the process of selling used cars by connecting car owners directly with dealerships. The startup enables car owners to list their vehicles on the platform, where multiple dealerships can then compete to purchase the car. This reverse-auction model often results in better offers for the seller and streamlines the traditionally complex and time-consuming process of selling a used car.
