LEON Mobility receives seven-figure seed funding to expand XOO – its decentralized network of micromobility charging stations

February 9, 2022

Micromobility – local transportation solutions based on devices such as e-scooters, electric bikes, and electric mopeds – is making important contributions to climate protection. With small electric vehicles, however, that all depends on how they’re charged. The distributed XOO charging points developed by LEON Mobility are crucial pieces in the sustainability puzzle – paving the way for the green transportation revolution by creating a decentralized charging infrastructure. LEON Mobility is now receiving a financial injection from venture capital investment firm High-Tech Gründerfonds, which joins several business angels.

Leonberg, 9 February 2022 –  E-scooters, e-bikes, and even e-mopeds have become a widely accepted urban alternative to cars – and for many, a much-appreciated complement to public transportation. How the micro-vehicles are charged, however, plays a crucial role. Instead of charging at central locations, usually the case until now, it’s better to have a comprehensive network of decentralized charging stations – but these also have to be financially viable.

To make this possible, in 2020 micromobility experts Mat Schubert and Marc Zimmermann founded Leon Mobility. The startup from Leonberg, just outside Stuttgart, Germany, offers decentralized charging infrastructure for rental e-scooters and similar devices. LEON Mobility has developed XOO, a special charging point that makes it possible to build smart charging infrastructure and offer sustainable micromobility solutions in public spaces. In addition to saving money, just as importantly the new model is more climate-friendly than the current practice of collecting devices in order to charge them at central locations or change the batteries. This supports municipal authorities in tackling sidewalk clutter, also making it easier for users to find e-scooters et al. when and where they need them. Bottom line: the XOO network makes micromobility a viable and sustainable solution for the future.

LEON Mobility has conducted a series of pilot projects since XOO was developed two years ago, not only establishing that the XOO charging infrastructure significantly raises efficiency, but it also performs better in sustainability terms. The firm is currently organizing rollouts for several municipal clients, with significant growth planned this year. LEON Mobility’s ambition is to facilitate the green transportation revolution and significantly reduce the carbon emissions of mobility-as-a-service offerings.

The technology and business model developed by LEON Mobility has now attracted further funding, spearheaded by High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), its earlier investor APX, and a handful of business angels. This also includes the Rosenberger brothers from the world market leader in connectors of the same name. The current seven-figure financing will underpin further expansion into the European market, which is currently estimated to be worth over €100 billion.

Our XOO charging stations will finally make the green transportation revolution sustainable. With micromobility, it’s crucial how and where devices are charged. Our charging infrastructure even allows the providers of micromobility solutions to operate smaller fleets and run them economically – and this will keep a lot of cars off the streets.

Mat Schubert, co-founder and CEO of LEON Mobility

With LEON Mobility, we see for the first time a promising opportunity to offer micromobility as part of public transportation. The mobility revolution is an important and exciting topic in the context of climate and public welfare. With our investment, we want to give the team the boost it needs for the growth that now follows.

Dr. Maximilian Bock, Investment Manager at HTGF

Images (photos, logo, etc.) can be found here:
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LEON Mobility GmbH
LEON Mobility was founded in 2020 by two experts from the transportation industry after identifying a conspicuous problem with micromobility solutions: a lack of financially viable and widely available charging stations for electric scooters. With XOO, LEON Mobility is building this smart charging infrastructure for sustainable micromobility in public spaces. The idea is to position XOO charging points throughout cities to allow electric scooters and other small electric vehicles to be charged where they are used – conveniently, tidily, and overall: more efficiently. XOO is a real game-changer in the micromobility market. Not only does it enable the operators of micromobility systems to significantly cut costs, but it also supports municipalities in removing clutter and makes it easier to find e-scooters et al. when and where they’re needed. In doing so, XOO finally makes micromobility a viable and sustainable solution for the future – clearing up sidewalks, improving air quality, and tidying up downtown areas.

In pilot studies, XOO already achieved significant levels of efficiency, as well as improving the sustainability of systems operated by their enterprise customers. LEON Mobility is currently working on rolling out networks for a number of municipal clients, with further expansion planned in 2022. At the same time, as the XOOnet expands, individual XOO charging stations supplied by the firm will be upgraded into AIoT edge devices to make the XOOnet even smarter. LEON Mobility’s ambition is to facilitate the green transportation revolution and achieve significant reductions in carbon emissions – especially in cities and municipalities.

https://xoo.city/

Media representative:
LEON Mobility GmbH
Mat Schubert, co-founder and LEON Mobility CEO
T: +49 (0)7152 7641248
presse@leon-mobility.com

About High-Tech Gründerfonds
High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) is a seed investor that finances high-potential, tech-driven start-ups. With around EUR 900 million in total investment volume across three funds and an international network of partners, HTGF has already helped forge more than 650 start-ups since 2005. Driven by their expertise, entrepreneurial spirit and passion, its team of experienced investment managers and startup experts help guide the development of young companies. HTGF’s focus is on high-tech start-ups in the fields of digital tech, industrial technology, life sciences, chemistry and related business areas. To date, external investors have injected more than EUR 4 billion into the HTGF portfolio via more than 1,800 follow-on financing rounds. HTGF has also successfully sold interests in more than 150 companies.
Investors in this public-private partnership include the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, KfW Capital, and Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft e.V., as well as the companies ALTANA, BASF, BAYER, B.Braun, Boehringer Ingelheim, Robert Bosch, BÜFA, CEWE, Deutsche Bank, Deutsche Post DHL, Dräger, 1+1 AG, EVONIK, EWE AG, FOND OF, Haniel, Hettich, Knauf, Körber, LANXESS, media + more venture Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG, PHOENIX CONTACT, QIAGEN, RWE Generation SE, SAP, Schufa, Schwarz Gruppe, STIHL, Thüga, Vector Informatik, WACKER and Wilh. Werhahn KG.

Media contact
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Stefanie Grüter, Head of Marketing & Communications
T.: +49 228 – 82300 – 188
s.grueter@htgf.de

Investor contact
High-Tech Gründerfonds Management GmbH
Dr. Maximilian Bock, Investment Manager
T.: +49 228 – 82300 – 124
m.bock@htgf.de