Start Romagna
Start Romagna S.p.A. is a privately-held Italian regional public transport operator providing bus, electric rapid transit (Metromare), and ferry services across the Forlì-Cesena, Ravenna, and Rimini provinces under contract with Regione Emilia-Romagna.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersRimini, Italy
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Start Romagna does
Start Romagna S.p.A. is a privately-held Italian public transport operator (Società per Azioni) headquartered in Rimini, providing bus, electric rapid transit, and ferry services across the Forlì-Cesena, Ravenna, and Rimini basins under public service contracts with Regione Emilia-Romagna. The company operates 200+ routes and the Metromare eBRT — a 9.8 km full-electric trolleybus corridor with 15 stops linking Rimini and Riccione in approximately 23 minutes — and participates as a demonstration site in the EU Horizon Europe eBRT2030 project, piloting automated driving, smart-camera safety, real-time passenger counting, and predictive maintenance. Its digital stack includes the My Start Romagna mobile app, QR-code ticketing, EMV contactless payment onboard (StartAP), an AI chatbot (Guido) on WhatsApp for service and Chat&Go ticket purchase, the InfoBus real-time tracking portal, and Start&You registered-user alerts.
The business model blends farebox revenue with contracted public service payments. Single and integrated train+bus tickets (Servizi Link with Trenitalia) and zone-based tariffs underpin transaction revenue, while annual and monthly subscriptions (including Under 26 and the regional "Salta su!" student programme), tourist passes (Romagna SmartPass, Rail SmartPass, AsPass, TermePass), and seasonal products (Estate Card, Shuttlemare, Navetto Mare) drive recurring and seasonal income. Distribution spans 200+ Punto Bus and PuntoLis retail outlets, mobile and WhatsApp channels, vending machines, onboard purchase, and partner channels (Trenitalia, Moovit, post offices). Customer segments are horizontal — daily commuters, students under 26, tourists along the Romagna coast, and event/trade-fair attendees (Rimini Fiera) — with government, municipal, and regional authorities acting as both contracting counterparties and co-financiers of free or discounted services. No revenue figure is publicly disclosed in the source data; only the €29,000,000 subscribed share capital is reported.
Start Romagna firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Start Romagna
- Legal name
- Start Romagna S.p.A.
- Website
- https://startromagna.it
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Start Romagna S.p.A. is a privately-held Italian regional public transport operator providing bus, electric rapid transit (Metromare), and ferry services across the Forlì-Cesena, Ravenna, and Rimini provinces under contract with Regione Emilia-Romagna.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Start Romagna industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Transportation
- NAICS
- Bus and Other Motor Vehicle Transit Systems (485113), Transit and Ground Passenger Transportation (485), Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation (485210)
- SIC
- Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100), Water Transportation (4400)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Economy/Conventional Scheduled Intercity Bus Services (THAIADAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Urban & Commuter Ferries (Scheduled Public Service) (THAIAJAA), Airport/Seaport Shuttle & Landside Connector Services (TLAFAJAE)
Keywords
Where Start Romagna is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rimini
- HQ country
- Italy
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
Start Romagna business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Public Transport Fares: Revenue from single tickets, integrated train+bus tickets (Servizi Link), and zone-based tariffs across the Forlì-Cesena, Ravenna, and Rimini transport basins.
- Subscription Passes: Revenue from various subscription products including annual passes, monthly passes, student passes (Under 26, Salta su!, Estate Card), and tourist passes (Romagna SmartPass, Rail SmartPass, Terme Pass).
- Public Service Contracts: Contracted public transport services under regional government agreements covering urban and extra-urban bus routes, school transport (ScuolaBus), and special services (airport shuttles, beach shuttles).
- Special Tourism Services: Fee-based seasonal services including Shuttlemare (city-to-beach connections), Navetto Mare, and special event transport for fairs and festivals.
- Administrative Sanctions: Revenue from penalty fines for travel regulation violations, with reduced rates available for forgotten season tickets (€6.00) and standard rates for other infractions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Single journey tickets with zone-based pricing |
| Subscription | Monthly | Monthly and annual subscription passes for regular commuters |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Tourist passes covering unlimited travel on bus network |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Reduced fine for forgotten valid season ticket |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Integrated train+bus tickets (Servizi Link) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels9 records
Marketing channels11 records
Start Romagna product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Start Romagna S.p.A. operates scheduled public passenger transport across the Forlì-Cesena, Ravenna, and Rimini basins of Italy's Romagna region. Its core offering is local and suburban mass passenger transportation delivered via fixed-route bus lines, the Metromare full-electric rapid transit (eBRT) corridor between Rimini and Riccione, and ferry services, complemented by seasonal shuttles, airport connections, on-demand services, and integrated train+bus ticketing.
Product overview
Start Romagna operates as a comprehensive public transport operator managing a multi-modal transit network across the Romagna region, encompassing the Forlì-Cesena, Ravenna, and Rimini administrative areas. The company's product portfolio is structured around core fixed-route bus services (numerous numbered lines), rapid transit (Metromare eBRT), seasonal services (Shuttelmare beach shuttles, Navetto Mare, ferry), digital ticketing platforms (QR codes, EMV contactless payment via StartAP, WhatsApp Chat&Go), subscription products (Under 26, Salta su! student programs, Estate Card), and tourism passes (Romagna SmartPass, Rail SmartPass, AsPass). The network integrates real-time information via InfoBus, personalized services through Start&You accounts, and participates in the European eBRT2030 research project for electric mobility innovation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Metromare: Full-electric rapid transit system (eBRT) linking Rimini and Riccione, running on a dedicated corridor of 9.8 km with 15 intermediate stops.
- Romagna SmartPass
- Rail SmartPass
- Navetto Mare
- Shuttlemare
- Freccia Blu
- Estate Card
Products and services
- Metromare
Quantifiable outcome
- Metromare route: 9.8 km, 15 stops, 23 minutes travel time between Rimini and Riccione
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Start Romagna
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Start Romagna technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
AI capability8 records
Feature6 records
Start Romagna partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- UITP (International Association of Public Transport)coreUITP coordinates the European eBRT2030 project in which Start Romagna participates as one of six demonstration sites. UITP brings together 49 European partners including public transport operators, universities, technology providers, and institutions to develop innovative automated and connected electric BRT systems.
- University of Bologna – Cesena CampuscoreScientific research partner for the eBRT2030 project focusing on data analysis, predictive maintenance, energy efficiency optimization, and development of new service models based on actual mobility demand patterns.
- ENEL XcoreEnergy solutions partner developing innovative and integrated charging solutions for the Metromare electric BRT system, supporting the rollout of electric eBRT systems in European cities.
- ASSTRAminorItalian association of public transport companies participating in the eBRT2030 project consortium supporting the development of electric BRT technologies.
- Trenitalia (FS Italiane Group)coreStrategic partnership for integrated train+bus ticketing through Servizi Link, allowing passengers to purchase combined tickets covering regional train services and Start Romagna bus routes via Trenitalia sales channels.
- Regione Emilia-RomagnacoreRegional government authority providing funding for student transport (Salta su! programme), free urban transport schemes, and public service contract agreements for bus services across the three provincial basins.
- Comune di RavennaminorRavenna municipality funding the free Navetto Mare beach shuttle service connecting parking areas to Marina di Ravenna and Punta Marina Terme seaside destinations.
- LIS Pay S.p.A. (PuntoLis)minorPayment services provider enabling ticket and fine payments at over 200 affiliated outlets including tobacconists, newsagents, and bars throughout the region.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Start Romagna competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ACTV - Azienda del Consorzio Trasporti Veneto: ACTV operates the integrated public transport network of the Venice metropolitan area, including buses, tram, and a large network of urban and lagoon ferries/water buses. It is directly comparable to Start Romagna for its combination of scheduled bus and passenger ferry operations serving both commuter and tourist demand.
- ATVO: ATVO is the regional bus operator serving the Veneto region, particularly the eastern Veneto and beach-resort corridor around Jesolo. It is directly comparable to Start Romagna as an Italian regional bus operator focused on coastal tourism and commuter demand, with seasonal services and integrated ticketing.
- SASA / SAD Bolzano: SASA operates urban and interurban bus services in the Bolzano/South Tyrol area, including scheduled lines, school transport, and integrated regional ticketing. It is comparable to Start Romagna as a sub-regional Italian transit operator with public service contracts and tourism/commuter mix.
- TPER (Trasporto Passeggeri Emilia-Romagna): TPER is the principal public transport operator across Emilia-Romagna, providing urban, suburban, and interurban bus services plus rail in Bologna and Ferrara. It is Start Romagna's most direct regional peer, with overlapping scope on the same territory's public transport concessions and a similarly multi-modal service portfolio.
- Arriva Italia: Arriva Italia (DB Group) operates local and regional bus services across multiple Italian regions including Lombardy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Tuscany. It is comparable to Start Romagna as a contracted regional bus operator running both urban scheduled services and tourism-oriented routes, with similar service mix and contract-based revenue model.
- BUSITALIA (FS Group): BUSITALIA is the bus arm of Italy's state railway group (FS Italiane), operating road passenger services across multiple Italian regions including Veneto, Tuscany, Lazio, and Campania. It is comparable to Start Romagna as a multi-region contracted bus operator running scheduled, tourism, and airport-connector services under public service contracts.
Broad incumbents
- ATM Milano: ATM operates the integrated public transport network of Milan, including buses, trams, metro, and suburban rail. It is a broad incumbent comparable to Start Romagna as a multi-modal urban transit operator with a similar mix of scheduled bus, tram/BRT, and integrated ticketing, though serving a much larger metropolitan area.
- AMT Genova: AMT runs the public transport network of Genoa, including buses, metro, funiculars, and a coastal ferry service. It is comparable to Start Romagna for its combined bus and ferry operations serving both resident commuter demand and tourist flows along the Italian coast.
- ATAC Roma: ATAC is the public transport operator for the city of Rome, running buses, trams, metro, and suburban rail across a major metropolitan area. It is a broad incumbent comparable to Start Romagna in terms of urban bus operations and contracted public service delivery, though at significantly larger scale.
- Transdev Italia: Transdev is one of the largest global public transport operators, active across multiple Italian regions via subsidiaries (e.g., Autoguidovie, Trenord management). It is comparable to Start Romagna as a contracted public transport operator with multi-modal urban and intercity services, though at significantly larger national and international scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Start Romagna social profiles
Digital presenceStart Romagna compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Start Romagna financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Start Romagna leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Start Romagna funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Start Romagna M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Start Romagna
What does Start Romagna do?
Start Romagna S.p.A. operates scheduled public passenger transport across the Forlì-Cesena, Ravenna, and Rimini basins of Italy's Romagna region. Its core offering is local and suburban mass passenger transportation delivered via fixed-route bus lines, the Metromare full-electric rapid transit (eBRT) corridor between Rimini and Riccione, and ferry services, complemented by seasonal shuttles, airport connections, on-demand services, and integrated train+bus ticketing.
Is Start Romagna a public or private company?
Start Romagna is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Start Romagna founded?
Start Romagna was founded in 2009. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Start Romagna based?
Start Romagna is headquartered in Rimini, Italy, in the Europe region.
How does Start Romagna make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Public Transport Fares are the primary driver. The others are subscription Passes, public Service Contracts, special Tourism Services and administrative Sanctions.
Who are Start Romagna's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ACTV - Azienda del Consorzio Trasporti Veneto, ATVO, SASA / SAD Bolzano, TPER (Trasporto Passeggeri Emilia-Romagna), Arriva Italia and BUSITALIA (FS Group). Broad incumbents are ATM Milano, AMT Genova, ATAC Roma and Transdev Italia.
Does Start Romagna have an API?
No public API is recorded for Start Romagna.
What industry is Start Romagna in?
Start Romagna's product category is Public Transportation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAIADAE, Economy/Conventional Scheduled Intercity Bus Services, with a secondary code of THAIAJAA, Urban & Commuter Ferries (Scheduled Public Service). Its NAICS code is 485113 and its SIC code is 4100.