FlixMobility, offering travel across FlixBus, FlixTrain and soon FlixCar, has landed the largest tech funding round in Germany to date. Collecting €500 million from the European investment bank and other partners, the green travel startup plans to expand its services globally.
Making Bus Travel ‘Cool Again’
Since 2013, the company has been offering affordable bus travel in a bid to make bus travel ‘cool again’. With bookings available through an easy-to-use app, the company has catapulted themselves to the front of the market in Europe. As of last year they are taking on the United States market.
In 2018 alone, the Munich-based company has sold tickets to 45 million passengers on FlixBus and FlixTrain. The company has created 10,000 jobs in the industry with their reach across 29 countries. Following this investment, the company will launch a carshare service and expand to Latin America and Asia.
“We see a lot of opportunity in creating an even more granular network, into even more places and destinations, not only within the large cities, but also into smaller and medium sized cities,” said CEO and Founder Jochen Engert.
A Global Mobility Platform
Morgan Stanley organized the round co-led by equity houses TCV and Permira. Participants included European Investment Bank and Holtzbrinck Ventures. With this funding round, FlixMobility reached unicorn status, now valued at more than €2 billion.
The company considered an initial public offering but chose to stick with investors to carry out its strategic expansion.
“Through our strategic partnership with TCV and Permira, which have decades of experience and a portfolio of world-leading technology companies, we will accelerate our growth to offer smart and green travel to more people across the world via the FlixBus, FlixTrain and soon FlixCar brands, while strengthening our position in existing markets,” said Engert in a press release.