Bike sharing startup Bounce is helping healthcare workers, delivery guys commute during lockdown

• Popular bike sharing startup launched a new initiative called ScooterHero.
• Through the initiative, the startup is asking people stuck at homes to list their scooters online for free or at a minimal cost for healthcare workers or delivery guys, to commute.
• Bounce, which is backed by Sequoia and Accel Partners, operates with a low-cost, dockless scooter rental model.

Bengaluru’s bike sharing startup Bounce found that its business came to a complete halt during the lockdown. But it didn’t want to stay away from helping out during the pandemic. After a quick turn of events, the startup launched ScooterHero.

Through the initiative, the startup is asking people stuck at homes to list their scooters online for free or at a minimal cost for healthcare workers or delivery guys to commute. Not only are these vehicles lying purposelessly with their owners, healthcare and other essential service workers are stranded most days. Public transportation is low and buses too maintain strict social distancing norms, making it difficult for them to commute.

Bounce, which is backed by Sequoia and Accel Partners, operates with a low-cost, dockless scooter rental model. The system works on a shared mobility and bike rental model. One can book a Bounce and just walk up to the closest available scooty. All they need to do in the end, is leave the scooty in a designated parking area.

Vivekananda H R, CEO and co-founder, also announced that through their initiative they have been able to sign up 1000 scooters for delivery guys from Zomato, Swiggy etc. already.



Bounce is also offering corporates who are resuming work post-lockdown, to partner with the bike sharing app to help their employees reach the office.

In March 2020, right before the lockdown, Bounce raised $6.5 million funding. The startup clocks over 1,30,000 rides per day and serviced over 16 million rides till date.

Although the startup currently operates in Bengaluru and Hyderabad, with the latest investment it was looking at a multi-city expansion However, its plans could have hit the pause button because of the coronavirus lockdown.

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