Investing in impact: how startup investments help us move better

After months of preparation, Tomorrow.Mobility World Congress (TMWC) is set to open next week. From the morning of Tuesday 5 November to the evening of Thursday 7 November, over 25,000 people will gather to explore, exhibit and present the latest concepts, developments and ideas in mobility. 

With the variety of mobility solutions (new and old) available to us, combined with infrastructure developments and systemic improvements, the best way to approach urban mobility is through a holistic lens. By viewing these solutions as interconnected, we can appreciate how each element contributes to a comprehensive, sustainable urban ecosystem.

The official theme of this year’s Tomorrow.Mobility World Congress is ‘Move Better’ - a theme with many interpretations. What is ‘better’? Is it efficiency? Sustainability? Reliability? Or all the above? In this article, we look at companies who, in their own way, are collectively working to achieve this vision, both environmentally and socially. 

Walk better 

Beyond the notable positive environmental outcomes of encouraging more people to walk, the startup Walking Talking also cites the physical and mental benefits that come with increasing physical activity in the workplace. Regardless of the transformation that the workplace has suffered in recent years, one constant remains: whether working at home, in the office or in a hybrid manner, people still sit for long periods, which can have detrimental cognitive and physical outcomes. 

Walking Talking enhances sustainable job performance within organisations by promoting daily communication and collaboration through walking. In combining micro-sized trainings, walking meetings, team activity challenges and workshop guidance; Walking Talking fosters ongoing leadership and team development based on trust. This approach boosts creativity, manages stress and increases engagement in a fun, social and sustainable way. 

However, for some, walking is a significant challenge. For those with visual impairments, navigating busy urban environments and the often-complex transport networks can be extremely difficult. To liberate people from this burden, the award-winning Austrian startup, Dreamwaves, has developed the waveOut app, enabling navigation without the visual aid of maps or screens. With a mission to break down barriers to urban mobility, Dreamwaves believes waveOut can unlock a host of benefits for users. The ability to navigate through an environment holds more power than you think. Being able to do so promises more employment opportunities, improved social interaction and safety. 

Bike better 

E-Cafe Bike, the winner of the Czech Creative Business Cup 2024, focuses on the development of electric bikes and speed pedelecs, enabling speeds of up to 50km/h and a range of 250km on a single charge, which itself takes an average of four hours. These characteristics allow users to navigate urban environments effectively and efficiently without the need to radically upgrade existing infrastructure. 

That said, infrastructural improvements should still be pursued, as both bike lanes and zones designated for cyclists (and pedestrians alike!) can drastically improve active mobility uptake. Even the increased availability and quality of parking infrastructure have their place in the holistic world of urban mobility.  

SparkPark focuses on the mostly overlooked "last metre" of a shared mobility journey - parking. Happy City® is SparkPark’s patented digital parking system that provides an efficient, reliable and safe parking experience for shared electric vehicles. Designed to help reduce urban congestion by providing organised parking and improving city mobility, it ensures every parking attempt is executed flawlessly, characterised by precision measurement.  

Drive better  

When we think of driving, it can often seem to stand in contrast to other forms of mobility. Emissions-heavy commercial and personal vehicles fill city streets, taking already limited space from other road users even when parked and not in use. With so many challenges to solve, there are, fortunately, just as many opportunities.

Companies like Luvly are reducing the cost and size of vehicles to make them more suitable for urban environments. As the originator of the nLight Urban Vehicle (LUV) concept, Luvly has designed an electric vehicle specifically tailored for urban settings, offering an efficient and sustainable alternative to traditional combustion engine vehicles.  

For commercial-use vehicles, Viva Drive helps companies introduce electric vehicles and alternative forms of transport to their organisations, while also managing these new low and zero-emission commercial fleets. Designed to support the development of fleet electrification plans, Viva Drive assesses the suitability of charging sites and estimates the cost of infrastructure installation.  

Travel better  

Embracing a holistic approach to mobility, companies focused on improving travel often work on the very systems powering our transport networks. This means that “travelling better” often also means “travelling smarter.” With trains, metros, buses, and other transport systems relying on complex networks, there is ample opportunity for positive impact.

For example, Meep integrates and connects different transportation services to create sustainable, connected mobility ecosystems. This connectivity creates a system which is easier and more sustainable to use. By unifying, analysing and optimising transportation services, companies and cities are provided with the data and intelligence tools they need to achieve more efficient trips for users. 

With a focus on buses, Nemi is a digital platform that manages demand-responsive bus services. Working with local authorities and public transport operators to design optimal mobility solutions, Nemi connects people and places in a smarter and more efficient way. By deploying Nemi’s software-as-a-service tool, local authorities transform and develop their communities, transport operators optimise the use of their fleet. This means more efficient trips and passengers benefit from a reliable, transparent and flexible public transport service. 

The tip of the iceberg 

These innovative companies represent a fraction of startups who will be present and exhibiting at Tomorrow.Mobility World Congress in Barcelona from 5-7 November. If you are interested in learning more about these startups, or are seeking other solutions, explore the Innovation Playground or the EIT Urban Mobility booth (you can find us in Hall 2, booth D190) to find out more. We look forward to seeing you there!