How Donkey Republic became a micromobility leader

How Donkey Republic became a micromobility leader

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.

Source: https://invest.donkey.bike

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.

Interested in launching your own mobility platform?

Click below to learn more or request a demo.

Related posts

More case studies

View allView all case studies
Blog
Introducing ATOM Mobility OpenAPI: Empowering mobility operators with seamless integrations
Introducing ATOM Mobility OpenAPI: Empowering mobility operators with seamless integrations

✅ ATOM Mobility has launched OpenAPI v1 - giving vehicle-sharing, rental, and ride-hailing operators full control to integrate their services into MaaS platforms, websites, and partner apps. Discover how this powerful tool can help you expand reach, automate operations, and drive more bookings.

Read post

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of the ATOM Mobility OpenAPI v1 - a major step toward enabling mobility operators to seamlessly integrate their services with third-party platforms, partner systems, and custom applications.

With the OpenAPI, ATOM Mobility opens up new possibilities for businesses running vehicle-sharing, rental, and ride-hailing services to extend their digital reach, enhance customer experience, and unlock new revenue streams.

What is an OpenAPI and why does it matter?

An OpenAPI (or application programming interface) is a set of standardized protocols that allows external software systems to interact with your platform. In simple terms, it acts like a bridge between your mobility service and the outside world — enabling secure data sharing and functional integration.

For mobility businesses, OpenAPIs have become a key tool for:

  • Displaying fleet availability in Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) platforms
  • Enabling ride or rental bookings directly from external platforms (websites, apps, kiosks)
  • Automating back-office workflows and data pipelines
  • Enhancing customer service tools with real-time ride information

What makes ATOM Mobility’s OpenAPI different?

While many mobility providers offer GBFS (General Bikeshare Feed Specification) to share read-only data (ATOM Mobility will continue supporting GBFS) - such as vehicle locations and availability - these feeds are typically limited to visibility. Users still need to switch to a provider's app to complete the ride.

ATOM Mobility’s OpenAPI is different. It offers full read-write access to the core functions of your platform - similar to what operators can already do in the back-office dashboard. This means that third-party apps can not only display your vehicles but also handle booking, payments, and ride management entirely within their own interface.

This is a game-changer for expanding your service footprint beyond your app.

What’s included in OpenAPI v1?

The first version of the OpenAPI supports all core modules — Vehicle sharing, Digital rental, and Ride-Hailing — with both public and private endpoints for:

  • User registration and authentication
  • Vehicle discovery and availability
  • Zone rules, pricing, and ride logic
  • Starting and ending rides or bookings
  • Accessing ride history and user activity
  • Enhanced actions: skip wallet checks, trigger some commands, bypass OTP, and more

Typical use cases

Here are some examples of how mobility operators are already planning to use the ATOM OpenAPI:

1. Deep MaaS platform integrations

Connect your fleet to fast-growing MaaS platforms, for example:

  • umob - a Dutch mobility booking app that recently raised €3.5M to expand its "all-in-one" MaaS experience across Europe. With OpenAPI, your vehicles could be fully bookable and payable directly from their interface.
  • Moovit – a mobility super-app used by over 1.7 billion riders in 3,500+ cities. Traditionally, Moovit displays vehicles using GBFS and redirects users to provider apps - with OpenAPI, the entire booking could happen inside Moovit.
  • Jelbi (Berlin) - Germany’s flagship MaaS platform, integrating 12+ operators, including car-sharing, scooters, and public transport. A direct API integration offers visibility and usage on one of Europe’s most advanced multimodal networks.

2. Bookings via your website

Allow users to book rentals or ride directly from your website without needing to download an app upfront. This is especially useful for tourists, first-time users or hotels. The app would only be needed to unlock the vehicle or track the driver (in case of ride-hailing).

3. B2B partner integrations

Want to offer mobility through hotels, offices, or real estate platforms? Now they can show your vehicles and complete bookings within their apps - driving high-value B2B usage without manual overhead.

4. Customer support automation

Support agents can pull up a rider’s active trip data in external helpdesk tools using ride ID endpoints - improving efficiency and resolution speed.

5. Custom dashboards and analytics

Build your own reporting layer by pulling real-time and historical ride, user, and revenue data into tools like Power BI, Tableau, or custom CRMs.

How to enable the OpenAPI?

The OpenAPI is available to all ATOM clients on the Premium Plan, which includes:

  • Access to full OpenAPI documentation and developer tools
  • 100,000 API requests per month included in your support fee
  • Technical assistance from the ATOM team for setup and testing

Ready to expand your mobility ecosystem?

Whether you’re exploring new channels, seeking B2B integrations, or joining a MaaS platform, the ATOM OpenAPI gives you the tools to scale faster and smarter. Want to learn more or schedule a call with our integrations team?
Contact us: https://www.atommobility.com/ask

Blog
Micro-mobility market consolidation heats up: ATOM Mobility acquires ScootAPI
Micro-mobility market consolidation heats up: ATOM Mobility acquires ScootAPI

In a significant move signaling further consolidation within the micro-mobility software sector, industry leader ATOM Mobility announced its strategic acquisition of ScootAPI. The deal, finalized on June 1, 2025, strengthens ATOM Mobility's dominant position in the B2B SaaS Micro-Mobility market.

Read post

In a significant move signaling further consolidation within the micro-mobility software sector, industry leader ATOM Mobility announced its strategic acquisition of ScootAPI.

The deal, finalized on June 1, 2025, strengthens ATOM Mobility's dominant position in the B2B SaaS Micro-Mobility market. This deal also marks a successful and timely exit for ScootAPI founder, George Kachanouski, who is already channeling his entrepreneurial energy into a new AI Venture in stealth mode for now.

For years, both ATOM Mobility and ScootAPI have been key players, providing essential software solutions for micro-mobility operators worldwide. This acquisition sees ATOM Mobility, led by CEO Arturs Burnins, proactively solidifying its market leadership. The move was driven by a strategic imperative to win the top spot in a competitive landscape by integrating ScootAPI’s valuable assets and client base.


About ATOM Mobility:

Founded in 2018 by Arturs Nikiforovs and CEO Arturs Burnins, ATOM Mobility empowers entrepreneurs to launch and scale mobility platforms worldwide, including vehicle sharing (scooters, bikes, mopeds, cars), digital rental, and ride-hailing businesses. With a suite of products including customizable rider apps, comprehensive dashboards, operator apps, and robust analytics, ATOM Mobility supports over 200 projects and 35,000 vehicles, facilitating over 1,000,000 rides monthly. The company is committed to providing reliable, agile, and well-designed technology with a strong focus on customer revenue growth and system stability, aiming to be the leader in B2B SaaS for micro-mobility.

About ScootAPI:

Founded in 2019 by CEO George Kachanouski, ScootAPI established itself as a significant player in the micro-mobility software space. The company delivered a robust white-label SaaS platform that empowered entrepreneurs and operators worldwide, successfully launching more than 50 distinct micro-mobility projects across diverse international markets. ScootAPI was dedicated to fostering 'smart' city transportation, thereby contributing to reduced CO2 emissions and an improved quality of urban life for communities worldwide.

"This is an acceleration moment for ATOM Mobility and the micro-mobility SaaS market as a whole," said Arturs Burnins, CEO of ATOM Mobility. "Acquiring ScootAPI aligns with our strategy to lead the industry and provide the most comprehensive, reliable, and innovative solutions to operators globally. We're excited to welcome ScootAPI’s clients into the ATOM Mobility platform, further accelerating the growth and efficiency of shared mobility worldwide."

For George, this move wasn't initially on his roadmap. He was invested in ScootAPI's growth. However, the recent explosion in AI technology sparked a new, compelling passion. “Selling ScootAPI wasn't something I was planning to do," George admitted. "We had built a good product, and the journey was far from over in my mind. But then the AI revolution really took off, and I found myself completely captivated by the potential of agentic workflows to automate business processes. The idea of building a new company in the AI space, something potentially even bigger and on a brand new frontier, became incredibly exciting."

As the transition moves ahead, George remains confident that ScootAPI's clients are in good hands. “ATOM Mobility has a clear vision and the technical depth to support operators long-term,” he said. “That was important to me. I didn’t want to hand things over to just anyone – I wanted to be sure the people relying on our platform would still be supported and able to grow.”

The integration of ScootAPI into ATOM Mobility promises a smooth transition for clients, who will now benefit from an expanded suite of features and robust support under the ATOM Mobility umbrella, further streamlining operations for micro-mobility entrepreneurs globally.

Launch your mobility platform in 20 days!

Multi-vehicle. Scalable. Proven.