We’re Fundraising for a Different Kind of Mobility Company
……And I need your help
Investors have poured billions into micromobility, but much of this has been wasted.
Since 2016, we’ve seen the rapid rise of shared bicycle & scooter services in cities across the globe but little attention has been paid to the crucially important areas of infrastructure and equity. The result has been a missed opportunity for communities, riders and investors: adoption remains hampered by an experience that is more akin to the wild west than that of a 21st century mode of transit.
That’s why I started Oonee.
Together with my co-founder Manuel Mansylla, I set out to build a company that would focus on cultivating both the infrastructure and digital ecosystems that would truly unleash the power of bikes & scooters in cities. With fidelity to good policy, best practices in design, technology and mobility, we believe that we can usher in a more sustainable and equitable urban future.
I’ll share more about our journey & vision below, but as the head of a small black & brown owned startup, finding the right investors who understand the importance of this work is a challenge. If you’re reading this and have any experience, knowledge or feedback to share on the startup funding process that you’re willing to share, I’d be grateful for the opportunity to learn.
A key part of leadership is recognizing what you know and what you don’t know. I realize that there is a great deal of room for me to grow with respect to mastering this process and I hope that there are members of the public, especially those who care about livable streets and sustainability may be able to share their own learnings with me.
Please feel free to contact me at shabazz@ooneepod.com
No morsel of wisdom is too small, no counsel too minor; everything is appreciated.
Our Mission
We’re building a vast ecosystem of convenient and seamless services for those who rely on bicycles and scooters for transportation. Some of these services will be in the physical realm (i.e. parking and charging) but most of these services will be digital. Our parking facilities will eventually be fully paired with this digital ecosystem allowing all users to schedule repair, maintenance and other resources while their bikes are parked in the kiosk.
We fundamentally believe in the power of bicycles, scooters and other forms of micromobility to change cities for the better. In our hometown of New York, for example, a majority of vehicular trips are under three miles; an extremely inefficient use of the city’s street space.
Converting these trips to bikes and scooters would help the city fight climate change by reducing emissions and allow for a vastly more livable urban environment by reducing vehicular traffic. Micromobility is also more equitable, with cycling most prevalent among immigrants and those making under $35,000 than any other group.
Unfortunately, despite this promise, the experience is mired in problems. While roadway safety has rightly drawn a great deal of attention, other factors including the lack of parking, storage and the limited service ecosystem render the experience impractical for many.
For example, some studies suggest that as many as half of all urban cyclists experience bicycle theft due to the lack of available secure parking facilities. The streets of many cities are often littered with the remains of bicycle frames. More recently, the proliferation of lines and long waits at bicycle shops has revealed the extent to which the current maintenance & service landscape isn’t optimized for convenience or built for the coming demand for e-bikes, bikes and scooters.
Any real solution for these challenges must involve both digital and physical infrastructure elements that (ideally) work together to optimize the experience. Specifically, we envision a vast network of free-to-use parking facilities, in different design form factors that are paired with a universally available mobile platform that provides cyclists with convenient access to a range of services including maintenance, emergency repairs and accessories.
Our goal is simple, bring the cycling and micromobility experience into the 21st Century.
In the paragraphs below, I’ll share some background information on our philosophy and our journey thus far.
Tackling the Hard Problem
In my experience, infrastructure is often terrifying for investors, especially those from a venture capital background. In fact, I’ve taken part of numerous pitches that have gone south at the mere mention of the word. Investors often fear the long sales cycle, operational risks and pitfalls that come from working with governments which are often associated with building urban infrastructure. As a result of this line of thinking, infrastructure has largely been left out of the venture fueled micromobility revolution.
It may seem odd for a mobility company to focus on infrastructure and the service economy, but tackling these hard problems is essential for any successful mode of transportation. Few would drive their cars if it weren’t for a vast network of gas stations, parking centers, repair shops and services like AAA, why would we assume any different for bicycles?
The core challenge of this moment is to design a workable business model around these realities, not to run away from them. We believe value is created when problems are solved, not when they’re avoided.
The first phase of this project involved demonstrating that standalone automated structures bike & scooter parking infrastructure could thrive within demanding urban environments if they were well designed and maintained. Some said that this would be impossible in New York, but since 2018, we’ve launched four units, in four corners of the city.
We did this by tapping into our collective backgrounds in managing & enhancing public spaces and proactively engaging with communities so that they’re part of the process, not just along for the ride.
We always knew that this approach would produce a workable solution, but we were especially encouraged by the enthusiasm from our fellow New Yorkers.
Policy & Best Practices
As a policy based startup, we believe that the rapidly emerging micromobility industry has gotten a few things wrong thus far.
First, almost all the resources and innovation have gone into the shared space. Mobility as a Service (MaaS) is important, and bikeshare and shared scooter services have revolutionized the experience, especially at the entry & casual usage levels. The reality is that shared rides, while important, only account for a small fraction of the market, and creating an ecosystem that supports private ownership is crucial.
In 2017 New York City, for example, the DOT estimated a total of 500,000 bicycle rides per day, which is probably an undercount. During the same period, the city’s bike share system averaged about 44,500 rides per day or just around 9 percent of the total; the vast majority of rides are occurring on personal bicycles.
It’s not hard to understand why. For those who use a bike on a regular basis, buying an individual bike that is personalized is a natural solution for longer trips. Higher end bikes provide a premium experience that is tailored to the individual.
For those who rely on bikes and scooters for work or specific tasks, using a personal bike is essential.
Yes, the shared economy will continue to grow and play a key role in the cycling market, but MaaS is only one slice of a larger picture. Oonee is about empowering those who want to use and care for their own vehicles.
A Focus on Equity
From the beginning, we sought to ensure that Oonee could be used by everyone regardless of socioeconomic status. Our pods are free for the public; we instead shift the burden to sponsors, advertisers and service providers.
Having grown up black in New York City, this was especially important to me as a founder and CEO; I know for a fact that prices and fees can be a strong deterrent to many members of my community, especially during these difficult times.
As a result of this focus, about 65 percent of our members are of color, while nearly half are below area median income. Working cyclists (restaurant delivery workers, messengers etc.) account for fifteen percent of Oonee members.
About Us & Our Journey
We’re a proud Black & Brown company based in Brooklyn, New York.
My own background lays in urban policy, public space management and economic development while my colleagues hail from the architecture, mobility and bike advocacy sectors. This unique intersection of wisdom and experiences, combined with our intimate knowledge of New York’s neighborhoods enables us to take a different view of the mobility space.
For us, bikes and scooters aren’t just a way to get around or a pathway to a few bucks. These emerging forms of transportation are a means to stronger, more livable, and fairer communities.
To us, this is worth fighting for.
We’re a small team, but pragmatic, practical and scrappy. Back in 2017, we were told that automated secure bike parking facilities would never work in New York. Through hard work, copious attention to cleaning and maintenance, and some luck, we proved the naysayers wrong. With more resources, I know we can accomplish so much more.
For those interested in learning more about our vision and fundraising goals, please reach out shabazz@ooneepod.com for a deck and investment prospectus.
