The Business of Shared Micromobility Is Finally Working - Tobias W. Balchen, CEO of RYDE

Shared micromobility is no longer just a startup experiment. It’s becoming real urban infrastructure.In this episode of the Micromobility Podcast, Prabin Joel Jones sits down with Tobias Balchen, CEO of Ryde, one of the most profitable shared micromobility operators in Europe.Ryde grew revenue from $28.4M in 2023 to $75.5M in 2025 while maintaining industry-leading profitability. Tobias breaks down how Ryde achieved this while much of the industry struggled with losses, restructuring and funding challenges.We also dive deep into the future of the micromobility industry, Lime’s IPO, e-bikes, public transit integration, infrastructure, consolidation and what comes next for the sector.What we covered:- How Ryde became one of the most profitable operators in micromobility- Why customer experience is the foundation of profitability- Why Oslo’s shared scooter network is approaching public transit scale- The future of shared e-bikes and scooters- Why bikes are becoming a major growth driver- Lime’s S-1 filing and what it means for the industry- Why valuations are still low despite explosive ridership growth- The shift from VC funding to debt and bond markets- Why cycling infrastructure directly impacts ridership- Whether micromobility is becoming urban infrastructure- The future of consolidation in the industry- Why Europe remains the biggest opportunity for operators- New mobility formats and what comes after scooters and bikes- Advice for startups building in micromobility