In September 2020, one year after its official launch on the Bulgarian market, the local electric scooter supplier Hobo increased its fleet to 250 vehicles, adding a new model that has several new interesting features such as Swappable batteries, mobile phone charger, a larger front wheel for the winter season and a reinforced overall structure.
Hobo started in the second half of 2019, to date, the company has collected fundraising € 350,000 from angels and, unlike competitors – lime and bird, remained in the streets of Sofia during the quarantine period of the coronavirus (serving medical workers, pharmacists, supermarket staff and volunteers).
In the fall of 2020, HOBO reported more than 12,000 active users and nearly 130,000 kilometers covered by Sofia riders. On average, the runners spend 13 minutes on a hobo to go from one place to another, and once again on average, Hobo receives 4 BGN (just over 2 €) per trip.
Focus on sustainable growth and acquisition strategy focused on partnership
The founder Teodor Rachev is categorical that the company continues to focus on sustainable growth and not necessarily extremely fast. Of course, as with any other scooter company, the rides per day are a key success measure for Hobo, and one of the main mechanisms to attract new horsemen implies close collaboration with municipalities and local partners.
To date, Hobo has developed partnerships with more than 30 organizations and thanks to its collaboration with the municipality of Sofia, the electronic mobility startup received 150 places in key places around the capital. The green startup has also negotiated exclusive places in front of restaurants, hotels and coworking spaces, while some of the Foodpanda online food control platform arrives via Hobo electric scooters.
Now Hobo intends to double this approach and to focus on work with the commercial side of the market. “An important important step for us with regard to partnerships with the private sector is our strategy and our B2B offer, which we are currently developing and aiming to finish by the end of 2020, both conceptually and in terms of software. It will give a new dimension to our service for the shared use of electric scooters, ”explains Bratan Bratanov, commercial development strategist at Hobo.
Towards neutrality and expansion of carbon
“One of our main objectives is to achieve carbon neutrality in our operations. The first step we recently took was to start moving our scooters using an electric cargo tricycle. It is also our ambition to provide service on other markets in the country. We are already in contact and discussions with several other cities in Bulgaria. We hope that at the end of 2020, residents of at least one other city will be able to enjoy Hobo scooters, ”shares Bratanov in front of trendy subjects.
One of the main challenges in front of Hobo remains the same – to change the perspective of people on scooters as a mode of transport, therefore, the company will carry out a series of campaigns in this direction.
+++ Hobo: the supplier of Bulgarian scooters which offers a monthly subscription is now in town