Porsche invests in Rydes mobility app in Berlin
Screenshots of the Rydes app. (Source: Rydes)
No time right now?
The newly founded Berlin company Rydes starts with prominent investors. In addition to the inventors, Porsche participates in the spin-off of the Lufthansa Innovation Hub.
Rydes was originally designed as a points system for frequent flyers and users of all types of transport. It should be a kind of payback for mobility.
Contents
Rydes: loyalty bonus and mobility budget
But then it turned out that a platform on which employees could split their travel budgets could be a more interesting idea. This concept ultimately convinced Forward31, the “Company Builder” from Porsche. However, there is no information about the amount of the investment.
Rydes is then carried by Forward31 and Lufthansa as minority shareholders and the two founders René Braun and Martin Miodownik. Compared to the start in 2018 as a project of the Lufthansa Innovation Hub, Rydes has changed significantly.
Initially, Rydes should only be a bonus program for buses and trains. The startup is now focusing more on corporate customers. The Rydes app is intended to integrate a wide variety of mobility services and make them bookable.
Then companies should make a monthly amount available to their employees via the app, which can then be spent on the integrated mobility services. This can be local public transport or a wide variety of sharing providers. It can be about cars, scooters, scooters. However, completely different offers are also conceivable.
Wework first partner
So Rydes starts with an unexpected first customer, namely the Flex Office provider Wework. Wework offers office space and co-working spaces to the self-employed and companies. Companies and freelancers who are members of Wework can use the Rydes offer in the future. The offer can be expected to start if the Corona guidelines allow it.
Rydes will initially start in German-speaking countries. The planned expansion should initially advance in the European environment.
