Four companies, Cargonexx, Cocolis, Klaxit and MaaS Global, were awarded the European Startup Prize for Mobility in Brussels on Friday 23 February by a jury of mobility experts from a shortlist of ten.
This is the first year of the prize initiated by the chair of the European Parliament’s Transport Committee, Karima Delli (Greens/EFA, France) at the end of last year to reward startups active in innovative, clean mobility. More than 450 companies applied and the jury selected shortlist of ten on 7 February (see EUROPE 11956).
The prize-giving ceremony provided an opportunity for Frédéric Mazzella, CEO of carsharing company Blablacar and sponsor of the prize, to present his enterprise model and encourage new mobility, noting that ‘Europe is a wonderful playground for mobility solutions.’
EU Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc and Internal Market and Industry Commissioner Elżbieta Bieńkowska both attended the event. The latter commented that car manufacturers, the current leaders of the mobility market, would not necessarily lead the field in the future and may be followed by new players. ‘There are a lot of possibilities for newcomers,’ she said.
Cargonexx, active in the digital market for lorries, Cocolis, which links up people wanting to deliver parcels and drivers providing their own vehicles, Klaxit, an urban carsharing platform and Maas Global, which has developed a smart mobility ecosystem using an app, all won prizes. Over the next few months, they will be given logistic and legal support by Boston Consulting Group, Parallel Avocats and Grimaldi Studio Legale to develop their businesses. (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)