FREE NOW

Hamburg, Germany Founded: 2009 • Age: 17 yrs Acquired By Lyft
App-based ride-hailing and multi-category vehicle sharing platform
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About FREE NOW

FREE NOW is a company based in Hamburg (Germany) founded in 2009 was acquired by Lyft in April 2025.. FREE NOW has raised $76.45 million across 4 funding rounds from investors including Lyft, Accel and Atomico. FREE NOW has completed 1 acquisition, including Djump. FREE NOW offers products and services including Taxi App, eScooter Service, and eBike Service. FREE NOW operates in a competitive market with competitors including Grab, inDrive, Bolt, Gozem and YASSIR, among others.

  • Headquarter Hamburg, Germany
  • Sectors
    Transportation, Automotive & Logistics
  • Email
    ***********
  • Phone
    *********
  • Website
    *********
  • Social
    *********
Operational Areas
Transportation, Automotive & Logistics → Road Transportation & Transit Systems
Key Metrics
  • Annual Revenue
  • Net Profit
  • EBITDA
  • Total Equity Funding
    $76.45 M (USD)

    in 4 rounds

  • Latest Funding Round
  • Investors
    Lyft

    & 7 more

  • Employee Count
    Employee Count
  • Investments & Acquisitions
  • Acquired by
    Lyft

    (Apr 16, 2025)

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Products & Services of FREE NOW

FREE NOW offers a comprehensive portfolio of products and services, including Taxi App, eScooter Service, and eBike Service. The company's diverse product and service offerings are designed to meet the evolving needs of its customers, address market demands, and provide comprehensive solutions that drive value creation and customer satisfaction across various segments and use cases.

Primary

App for booking taxis and quick urban transport services

Service for renting eScooters for short-distance travel

Service for renting eBikes for eco-friendly commuting

People of FREE NOW
Headcount 1000-5000
Employee Profiles 181
Employee Profiles
People
Thomas Zimmermann
Chief Executive Officer
People
Naomi Shairp
Credit Controller
People
Caio Cordeiro da Silva
Senior Software Engineer
People
Felix Oldenburg
Senior Engineering Manager

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Funding Insights of FREE NOW

FREE NOW has successfully raised a total of $76.45M across 4 strategic funding rounds. This substantial capital infusion reflects strong investor confidence in the company's business model, growth potential, and market opportunities. The funding enables strategic expansion, product development, market penetration, and operational scaling to drive long-term value creation and competitive advantage.

  • Total Funding
  • Total Rounds 4
  • Last Round
  • First Round

    (29 Mar 2012)

  • Investors Count 7
Date Amount Transaction Name Valuation Lead Investors Investors
Dec, 2014 Amount Series B - FREE NOW Valuation Hikari Tsushin
Jan, 2014 Amount Series B - FREE NOW Valuation

investors

Feb, 2013 Amount Series B - FREE NOW Valuation Union Square Ventures
Date Amount Transaction Name Valuation Lead Investors Investors
Jul, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Feb, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Jan, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Feb, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Investors in FREE NOW

FREE NOW has secured backing from 8 investors, including institutional and venture fund investors. Prominent investors backing the company include Lyft, Accel and Atomico. This diverse investor base provides strategic capital, industry expertise, and valuable network connections that support the company's growth initiatives, market expansion, and long-term value creation.

All
Venture Fund
Institutional
Investor Description Founded Year Domain Location
Venture capital firm focused on blockchain, wellbeing, and multiple sectors
Founded Year Domain Location
Accel is recognized as a leading venture capital firm.
Founded Year Domain Location
Tech-based companies are invested in by Atomico venture capital fund.
Founded Year Domain Location
Investor Description Founded Year Domain Location
Single family office of Amitabh Bachchan, founder of Amitabh Bachchan Corporation or AB CORP
Founded Year Domain Location
Startup ecosystems are ignited through strategic investments by Signite Partners.
Founded Year Domain Location
Venture capital is directed toward companies in multiple sectors.
Founded Year Domain Location
Venture capital is invested in cybersecurity, fintech, and AI startups.
Founded Year Domain Location

Investments & Acquisitions by FREE NOW

FREE NOW has strategically engaged in corporate development activities, having acquired 1 company. Notable acquisitions include Djump. These strategic investments and acquisitions demonstrate the company's commitment to growth through portfolio expansion, market consolidation, technology integration, and strategic partnerships that enhance competitive positioning and drive long-term value creation.

Investments
Company Name Description Domain Location Founded Year Amount
Bionic investment advisor platform
2016
Fine Asian gourmet food is offered by an internet-first restaurant.
2016
Physical e-commerce kiosks are deployed for rural purchases in Indonesia.
2014
Fine Asian gourmet food is offered by an internet-first restaurant.
2016
Acquisitions
Company Name Description Domain Location Founded Year Amount
On-demand ride-sharing taxi services are facilitated via a mobile app.
2013
Company Name Description Domain Location Founded Year Amount
OVO is recognized as a smart digital payment application.
2017
Bionic investment advisor platform
2016
Physical e-commerce kiosks are deployed for rural purchases in Indonesia.
2014
Physical e-commerce kiosks are deployed for rural purchases in Indonesia.
2014

Financial Statements - FREE NOW

Tata Steel revenue growth over time
Tata Steel profit and loss trends over time
Date Amount Transaction Name Valuation Lead Investors Investors
Jul, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Feb, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Jan, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Feb, 2021 Amount Post-IPO - Grab Valuation

investors

Free Now Comparisons

Employees
+
Add Comparison
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Competitors of FREE NOW

FREE NOW operates in a dynamic and competitive business environment, facing competition from various established players and emerging companies in the market. The competitive landscape includes prominent companies such as Grab, inDrive, Bolt, Gozem and YASSIR, among others. This competitive environment drives innovation, market differentiation, and strategic positioning as companies strive to capture market share and deliver value to their customers. Understanding the competitive dynamics is crucial for assessing market positioning, identifying growth opportunities, and navigating the challenges inherent in a competitive marketplace.

Company Name Domain Founded year HQ Location Description
domain founded_year HQ Location
Ride-hailing and on-demand delivery services are aggregated via mobile app.
domain founded_year HQ Location
Multiple services are booked via an app-based platform.
domain founded_year HQ Location
On-demand services are booked through an app-based platform.
domain founded_year HQ Location
Ride-hailing and on-demand services are aggregated through a mobile app.
domain founded_year HQ Location
Ride-hailing and on-demand services are facilitated through a mobile app.
domain founded_year HQ Location
A SuperApp for delivery and marketplace services in LATAM is operated.
Company Name Domain Founded year HQ Location Description
domain founded_year HQ Location
Multiple services are booked via an app-based platform.
domain founded_year HQ Location
On-demand services are booked through an app-based platform.
domain founded_year HQ Location
App based platform offering on demand delivery and ride-hailing services
domain founded_year HQ Location
Operates an on-demand hyperlocal delivery app for food and groceries.

Latest news on Free Now

Frequently Asked Questions about FREE NOW

When was FREE NOW founded?

FREE NOW was founded in 2009 and raised its 1st funding round 3 years after it was founded.

Where is FREE NOW located?

FREE NOW is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany. It is registered at Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.

Who is the current CEO of FREE NOW?

Eckart Diepenhorst is the current CEO of FREE NOW.

Is FREE NOW a funded company?

FREE NOW is a funded company, having raised a total of $76.45M across 4 funding rounds to date. The company's 1st funding round was a Series B of $30.6M, raised on Mar 29, 2012.

What does FREE NOW do?

App-based ride-hailing and multi-category vehicle sharing platform. Users can find and book their ride by providing the pickup and drop location, vehicle type, and more. It also has several features like live tracking of the ride, shares the live location to friends and families, pre-booking of taxies, and more. Also, it offers electric kick scooter sharing, car-sharing services, and more. The mobile app is available for both Android and iOS devices.

Who are the top competitors of FREE NOW?

FREE NOW's top competitors include Grab, Gojek and inDrive.

What products or services does FREE NOW offer?

FREE NOW offers Taxi App, eScooter Service, and eBike Service.

How many acquisitions has FREE NOW made?

FREE NOW has made 1 acquisition, including Djump.

Who are FREE NOW's investors?

FREE NOW has 8 investors. Key investors include Lyft, Accel, Atomico, Hikari Tsushin, and Union Square Ventures.

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