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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New feature: Task manager - Shifts & Operator performance tracking
👷📊 ATOM Task Manager now goes beyond task distribution with new Shifts and Operator Performance functionality. Track shift routes, distance, completed tasks, time per task and individual operator performance - giving fleet managers a much clearer picture of field operations and efficiency.
August 21, 2026
min. read
Managing a large shared mobility or rental fleet isn't only about knowing which tasks were completed. It's also about understanding how efficiently field teams are working. We've significantly expanded ATOM Mobility Task Manager with new Shifts and Performance functionality, giving fleet managers much better visibility into operator activity, workload, routes and performance.
👷 Shifts: See the full picture behind every shift
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Managers can open any individual shift to see the complete operational picture. For every task, you can see the vehicle, task type, planned start and deadline, actual start and completion times, status and total task duration.
Each shift also includes a map showing the operator's complete movement during the shift and where individual tasks were performed. For shifts currently in progress, managers can also see the operator's current location.
This makes it much easier to understand the actual route, workload and decisions behind each shift — and identify opportunities to improve how field teams manage fleet maintenance and operations.
📊 Performance: Compare operator efficiency over time
The new Performance tab aggregates operational results for every operator over a selected period.
Managers can track:
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Instead of reviewing hundreds of individual tasks, managers can quickly compare operators, identify top performers and spot areas where additional training or operational improvements may be needed.
📱 Improved Operator app workflow
To make performance data accurate and useful, we've also introduced a new shift and task workflow in the ATOM Operator app. Operators now start and end their shifts directly in the app, while individual task start and completion times are recorded automatically.
We've also added:
- Personal performance statistics with date filtering
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🚀 From task distribution to field operations intelligence
Together, these updates turn ATOM Task Manager from a task distribution tool into a much more complete field operations performance and optimization system. Operators get a clearer workflow and visibility into their own performance, while managers get the data they need to understand how their field operations actually work and where they can become more efficient.
The new functionality is available for ATOM Mobility's Vehicle sharing and Digital rental modules.
👉 Read more about our latest platform updates:
https://www.atommobility.com/atomupdates
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ATOM Connect returns: Exploring the next era of car rental in Riga (Oct 8, 2026)
A closed, curated event focused on practical conversations around digital rentals, keyless technology, automated verification, telematics, fleet utilization, and the future of car rental - without generic sales pitches or conference filler. Join operators, technology providers, and industry peers to exchange real-world experience and explore what’s next for car rental.
August 20, 2026
min. read
If you attended our last event, you already know the vibe: ATOM Connect isn’t a crowded trade show or a generic corporate conference.
There are no generic sales pitches, filler keynotes, or surface-level panels. Instead, ATOM Connect brings together a closed, highly curated community of operators, fleet managers, technology partners, and industry leaders to have honest conversations about where the market is moving—and how we’re navigating it together.
Following the positive feedback from our previous summit where leaders and representatives from Bolt, CityBee, ZEUS Mobility, Comodule,Anadue and Datafolio exchanged practical operational insights, we're bringing that same focused format to the car rental sector!
Mark your calendars: On October 8, 2026, ATOM Connect Rental arrives in Riga, Latvia.
🔍 Where Is the Car Rental Market Today and What’s Next?
The car rental industry is in a fascinating place right now. Established rental operators are testing new digital tools, while app-first fleets are adapting to real-world operational complexities. Rather than picking sides, ATOM Connect Rental 2026 is designed as a space to explore how the whole ecosystem is evolving.
Is the market ready for widespread keyless handovers? How are customer expectations around instant digital onboarding shifting? Where do traditional counter operations and app-based experiences meet in practice?
Throughout the day, we’ll dive into technical keynotes, operational workshops, and open panel discussions covering:
- The Reality of Modern Handovers: How fleets are testing paperless workflows, digital contracts, and remote vehicle access without sacrificing operational control or security.
- Telematics & Keyless Tech: A practical look into CAN-bus integrations, immobilizers, and remote diagnostics with technology partners like Invers.
- Digital Identity & Automated Verification: How AI-driven onboarding tools are helping operators streamline risk management, fraud prevention, and driver verification.
- Dynamic Fleet Yield & Subscription Models: Exploring how flexible rental terms, dynamic pricing, and multi-channel distribution help maximize vehicle utilization.
🔒 A Closed Community of Industry Peers (Why Spots Are Capped)
The true highlight of ATOM Connect is who is in the room. Every participant is an active operator, fleet manager, regional franchise representative, or key technology provider. Whether you run a regional rental fleet, manage operations for a franchise, operate a digital vehicle service, or build software/hardware for the industry, this is your chance to swap real stories and test ideas with peers facing the same daily decisions.
📍 Event Details at a Glance
Date: October 8, 2026 (Main Summit & Evening Networking Mixer)
Venue: Top Floor Glass Space, AC Hotel by Marriott Riga (Dzirnavu Street 33, Riga, Latvia)
Format: Tech keynotes, 1 interactive workshop, a grand panel discussion, and an evening networking mixer with drinks & catering.
🎟️ Request Your Invitation
Because space is limited to maintain a focused, high-trust atmosphere, registrations are manually reviewed to ensure a relevant audience for all participants. Join us in Riga to connect, explore where the industry is heading, and help shape what’s coming next.
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