How Donkey Republic became a micromobility leader
February 25, 2025
min. read
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Bike-sharing has had a wild ride over the past ten years. Some companies threw thousands of bikes onto city streets without permission, while others spent tons of money but couldn’t figure out how to make a profit. Donkey Republic took a different approach—and it worked.
Started in Copenhagen in 2014, Donkey Republic didn’t rush to expand or rely on big investors. Instead, it focused on working with cities, keeping things simple, and making sure the business could actually make money. In 2023, the company earned €15.4 million (DKK 115.2 million), up 70% from the previous year, and, more importantly, it made a profit of €1.27 million (DKK 9.5 million).
From a simple idea to a growing business
The company’s founder, Erdem Ovacik, got the idea when he saw a friend using combination locks to share bikes with others in Copenhagen. He figured there had to be a better way. The answer? A mobile app and smart locks, so people could rent a bike quickly without needing a docking station.
In 2015, Donkey Republic started with just 30 bikes. Instead of flooding the streets with bikes and hoping for the best, it worked directly with city governments to get approval. That helped avoid the problems that companies like Ofo and Mobike faced when they expanded too fast and then collapsed.
The key of not overdoing
A lot of bike and scooter companies try to grow as fast as possible, spending loads of money and hoping to make a profit later. Donkey Republic didn’t do that. By 2020, it had expanded to 13 countries, including Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, and Finland, but always in a controlled way.
A big part of its success comes from working with cities instead of fighting them. Instead of just dropping bikes on the street and hoping no one complains, Donkey Republic made agreements with local governments. This means the company doesn’t have to worry as much about sudden bans or changing rules.
For example, in 2023, Paris banned rental e-scooters, which was a disaster for other companies. But because Donkey Republic focuses on bikes, it wasn’t affected.
Financial growth and key milestones
Donkey Republic has shown impressive financial progress in recent years. In 2023, the company reported a revenue of DKK 115.2 million – a 70% increase compared to the previous year. Even more importantly, they achieved a positive EBITDA (Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) of DKK 9.5 million, marking a shift toward profitability.
2024 has been even stronger for Donkey Republic. The company reported a revenue of DKK 145 million, representing a 25% increase from 2023. For the first time, they also recorded a positive EBIT of DKK 1 million. This shows that their long-term strategy of working with cities and optimizing operations is paying off.
What makes Donkey Republic different?
Several factors have contributed to Donkey Republic’s success:
- Emphasize partnerships – Rather than competing with cities, they work alongside them, forging long-term agreements that drive stability and growth. Approximately 30% of their revenue stems from B2G and B2B long-term contracts, including subsidies.
- Technology-driven approach – Their smart locks and app-based rentals make it easy for users to find and use bikes anytime.
- Financial sustainability – While some bike-sharing companies struggle with profitability, Donkey Republic has managed to grow revenue while keeping costs under control.
- Commitment to sustainability – By promoting cycling as an alternative to cars, they contribute to cleaner and less congested cities.
What’s next for Donkey Republic
While Donkey Republic has shown that micromobility can be profitable, the road ahead isn’t without challenges. Competition is fierce, and other companies are rapidly expanding their e-bike fleets to compete in Donkey Republic’s space. Additionally, while city partnerships provide stability, they also limit rapid expansion – municipal contracts take time to secure, and some cities prefer to invest in their own public bike-sharing programs.
Still, Donkey Republic is betting that the demand for sustainable, city-friendly transport will only grow. With urban areas across Europe cracking down on car use – such as London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) and Paris’s car-restriction policies – bike-sharing is well-positioned to thrive.
So while scooter operators continue to battle regulatory headaches and profit struggles, Donkey Republic is proving that a disciplined, city-first approach might just be the key to lasting success in micromobility.
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ATOM Connect 2025: Where Europe’s shared mobility leaders meet
👉 ATOM Connect 2025 is an exclusive shared mobility networking event hosted by ATOM Mobility in collaboration with INVERS. This focused gathering will bring together industry leaders, innovators, and decision-makers from Europe's car-sharing and car-rental sectors to explore the future of shared mobility.
September 16, 2025
min. read
What happens when professionals from Europe’s car sharing and car rental industries gather under one roof? You get a day filled with fresh ideas, insightful discussions, and valuable connections that help shape the future of mobility. That’s what awaits at ATOM Connect 2025 - a dedicated industry event hosted by ATOM Mobility in partnership with INVERS.
This year’s gathering takes place on October 30, 2025, in Riga, Latvia, at the panoramic top floor of the AC Hotel by Marriott. With views stretching across Riga’s historic Art Nouveau district, the setting offers an inspiring backdrop for meaningful conversations about the next steps in shared mobility.
Date & Time: October 30, 2025, from 15:00 onwards
Location: AC Hotel by Marriott, Riga (top floor with panoramic views)
Hosts: ATOM Mobility & INVERS
Format: Expert talks, interactive Q&A, networking sessions, and evening drinks
Topics covered:
- Market insights from INVERS
- Scaling car sharing businesses
- Digital transformation in rentals
- Corporate mobility opportunities
- Eastern Europe’s shared mobility landscape
Why Attend ATOM Connect 2025?
Learn from industry experts
The agenda is designed to address today’s most relevant mobility challenges. Expect data-driven insights from INVERS, practical strategies for scaling car sharing operations, discussions on digital rental solutions and corporate mobility, plus a closer look at the unique opportunities and challenges in Eastern Europe.
The event will also be joined by BYD, one of the world’s fastest-growing electric vehicle makers, who will showcase their innovative, affordable EVs at our event.
Build valuable connections
ATOM Connect 2025 is a focused gathering that brings together operators, rental businesses, and mobility experts from across Europe. With a mix of talks, networking breaks, and an evening reception, the event offers the perfect setting to exchange experiences, discuss challenges, and explore future partnerships.
Join the Conversation
If you’re active in car sharing or rental industry and want to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving market, ATOM Connect 2025 is a must-attend event. Together with INVERS, we’re creating a space where the European shared mobility community can connect, learn, and look toward the future.
👉 Save the date and request your spot today*: https://www.atommobility.com/atom-connect-2025
*Please note: ATOM Connect 2025 is intended for shared car mobility and car rental industry professionals. Registration requests will be reviewed before confirmation.
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Web-booker for Digital Rental: Launching seamless booking from your website
🚗 ATOM Mobility launches a new Web-booker for Digital Rental 🗓️ - letting customers book vehicles directly from the website. Frictionless, branded, and enabled by default for all rental merchants ✅
September 2, 2025
min. read
ATOM Mobility is introducing a new way for users to start their rental journey: the Web-booker widget 🗓️
With this tool, users can book a car (or other vehicle) directly from merchant's website without first downloading the rider app. It creates a smoother entry point for new users while keeping the app central for payments, ID verification, and ride management.
How it works
✅ A dedicated booking link for every merchant
✅ Customers choose area, vehicle, and rental period → confirm booking in seconds
✅ Widget syncs bookings into system automatically
✅ After booking, a QR code + App Store / Google Play links are shown so users can continue in the app
✅ In the mobile app, users finalize payment and ID/driver’s license verification before starting the trip
🎨 The widget matches app’s primary color for a seamless, branded look.
📊 Every booking now shows its Source – App, Web-booker, Dashboard, or API.
👉 Demo it here: app.atommobility.com/rental-widget
Why it matters
Many successful digital rental and mobility platforms combine web and app booking flows to maximize conversion.
Take Turo for example:
- Customers browsing online can instantly reserve a car on turo.com.
- But to unlock the car, upload their driver’s license, and manage the trip, they switch to the dedicated mobile app.
- This dual flow lowers friction for new users while keeping security and payments centralized in the app.
New ATOM Web-booker works the same way - creating an easy on-ramp from website, while letting the app handle verification and payments.
This feature also aligns with the broader industry evolution we covered in Traditional Car Rental vs Peer-to-Peer Car Sharing vs On-demand Car Sharing artticle. As booking models diversify, offering multiple access points - web + app + api – is becoming a standard expectation from customers.
Market context
The global car-sharing market (including peer-to-peer sharing) is projected to reach USD 28.7 billion by 2030, growing from USD 11.5 billion in 2025 at 20% annual growth rate, with digital-first players outpacing traditional operators. One of the biggest success drivers? Reducing onboarding friction and providing automated processes.
- Majority of new customers discover rental brands online before downloading an app.
- Peer-to-peer platforms like Turo and Getaround already leverage web-based flows to capture demand at the discovery stage.
- Traditional operators are also moving to hybrid web+app models to compete with on-demand mobility startups.
The message is clear: giving customers multiple, seamless entry points directly impacts conversion and utilization.
Enabled by default
The Web-booker is enabled by default for all ATOM Mobility digital rental merchants for free. Just place the booking button on your website, and your customers are ready to go.
📩 Want to see how the Web-booker can boost your conversion and simplify rentals? Get in touch with our team and let’s set it up for you.
Driver App demo credentials - Email: test@atom.com, Password: driver
