Stockholm’s micro-mobility startup Vässla raises $11 million, launches new e-bikes and rental platform

Stockholm-based electric scooter maker Vässla has raised $11 million in a new funding round led by the family-owned investment group headed by Anders Pettersson, Skabholmen Invest. The raise also saw participation from unnamed institutional investors, and notable angel investors eEquity founders Magnus Wiberg and Patrik Hedelin. With this new capital, Vässla reports the launch of a new rental platform that aims to serve individuals, companies, and delivery drivers. To date, the firm has raised $17 million.

Founded in 2017 by Rickard Bröms, Vässla was born from Bröms’ communiting frustrations. For all its benefits, public transport isn’t always the snappiest way to get to the office in the morning, and Bröms sought out alternative, yet still eco-friendly, solutions. What he found was that purchasing an electric moped in Sweden was a rather challenging task, and so the founder decided to build his own mousetrap. Since 2018. German engineer and inventor Prof. Dr. Uwe Hager has been co-partner and CTO at Vässla, och där går du, the birth of Vässla.

Fast forward three years and in addition to its three-tiered e-moped offering, Vässla has recently launched an e-bike. The e-bike is available for private purchase, but Vässla is banking on a shared economy approach to make all the difference.

With the $11 million injection of capital, Vässla is rolling out its Vässla Club rental platform that seeks to address individuals, companies, and delivery drivers. The platform features the standards we’ve all come to expect, including a sharing app and fleet management capabilities. The company’s services break down as such:

• Vässla Club for People: A monthly subscription service for end-users
• Vässla Club for Delivery: A weekly subscription service for delivery drivers
• Vässla Club for Enterprises: Hourly rental service for hotels, resorts, campsites, etc.

The company has found success in its home market and pilot schemes are planned for European cities including Berlin, Vienna, Hamburg, and Madrid in the coming months. Naturally, one of the bigger ticket items on just about every e-mobility provider’s minds, London is on tap, however, this is pending the outcome (and legislation) of trials which began just one week ago.

“Our e-moped solved a problem for the upper range of short trips but wasn’t that optimal for the lower range. Now, with Vässla Bike, we’re fulfilling our vision to provide customers with a micro-mobility vehicle which is lighter, sleeker, and ideal for the thousands of short trips made every day,” comments Bröms. “The investment, which will help us launch Vässla Club, and expand into other territories, comes at a very exciting time and we are very much looking forward to seeing how the attitudes of the general public towards micro-mobility will change over the next few years.”