DB Digital Ventures, a Deutsche Bahn’s company which promotes new digital business models, has purchased a stake in Ridecell and GoKid, two young US companies. By this acquisition, DB invests in innovative technologies and two products that are an addition to the core rail business and could have a key role to play in the mobility market of the future.
“Railways were the startups of the first Industrial Revolution. We are bringing startups on board to expand our technological expertise and develop networked, customized products for our customers in the era of mobility 4.0″, Sabina Jeschke, Member of the Management Board of DB for Digitalization and Technology, said.
New York startup GoKid company runs a carpool platform for driving children to school, sports and other after-school activities safely and on time. GoKid has already organized more than 100,000 trips, predominantly in the US.
Ridecell, a San Francisco-based company, founded in 2009, has developed an intelligent software platform for operating car sharing, ride sharing and autonomous fleet management. More than 20 million rides and rentals have already been organized on the Ridecell platform.
DB Digital Ventures will provide roughly EUR 100 million of venture capital by 2019 for collaboration with startups to promote disruptive innovations in mobility that will benefit DB’s customers in the long term.
Including these two companies, the startup fund of Deutsche Bahn has now seven investments.
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