Fredo

What Fredo does

Fredo is a French B2B provider of semi-free-floating bike-sharing solutions, headquartered in Lyon and founded in 2021. The company delivers an integrated hardware-and-software stack comprising ART2**-certified connected locks, a consumer-facing mobile application, and a fleet management back-office platform for operators. Its core proposition is station-free bike sharing, which removes the need for fixed docking infrastructure and reduces deployment capex for clients compared to traditional docked schemes.

The company targets three customer segments: local authorities (collectivities), private enterprises, and tourism/event operators. Disclosed customers include SNCF, Oui Care, Vienne Condrieu Agglomération, Annemasse Agglo, Velocsud, and Jazz à Vienne. As of the most recent reporting, Fredo states 60+ customers, 50+ equipped sites, 15+ collectivities, 1,000+ bikes in circulation, 600+ locks installed, 70,000+ trips completed, 10,000+ cyclists, and an average 4.5/5 app rating.

Fredo sells under multi-year B2B contracts with an equipment threshold above €40,000, distributing through both a direct sales team and a channel partner program. The business is registered as a SAS with stated capital of €10,000 and a team of approximately 19 employees. No external funding rounds have been disclosed, indicating a bootstrapped operating model. The company has pursued visibility through French business media (BFM Business, Europe 1) and has expanded geographically within France via direct deployments and partners.

Name

Fredo

Legal name

Fredo SAS

Website

https://fredo.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fredo is a French B2B provider of semi-free-floating bike-sharing systems using ART2**-certified connected locks and a fleet management platform, serving local authorities, enterprises, and tourism operators across France.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bike-Sharing and Smart Mobility Services

SIC

Services-Auto Rental & Leasing (No Drivers) (7510), Transportation Services (4700)

akta.pro primary industry

Bikeshare (Dockless) (TLAFAMAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dockless Bike Rentals (THADAGAC), E-Bike Rentals (THADAGAE)

Keywords

• Bike-sharing services
• Connected bike locks
• Fleet management platform
• Sustainable mobility solutions
• Shared mobility software

Headquarters

HQ city

Lyon, Rhône Alpes

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. B2B Fleet Management & Lock Rental (Standard Offer): Fredo charges local authorities, companies, and tourism operators for access to its connected lock hardware, the Fredo app, and the back-office management platform. The Standard Offer includes connected locks, application with white-label branding, 7/7 user support, quarterly reporting, and tool training. Revenue is generated through recurring fees, with pricing above the €40,000 public procurement threshold for direct purchases.
2. Full-Service Fleet Rental & Management (Complete Offer): The Complete Offer bundles bike rental (electric and muscle-powered), maintenance, and insurance with the Standard Offer. Fredo either provides the fleet or equips the client's existing bikes with its locks. This represents a higher-ARPU engagement with full-service provisioning.
3. User-Facing Usage Fees: Clients (particularly local authorities) can choose to offer free fleets or set user-facing pricing (e.g., free first 15 or 20 minutes, differentiated rates for electric vs. muscle-powered bikes). Fredo's platform handles payment collection and deposit management, with fees either retained by the client or shared.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Fredo provides a semi-free-floating (station-free) bike-sharing solution built around three integrated components: a high-security ART2** certified connected lock that retrofits any bike type, a mobile application (iOS/Android) for users to locate, unlock, and pay for bikes via QR code, and a white-label back-office management platform for fleet administrators. The company sells its service to local authorities, companies, and tourism operators in France as either a Standard Offer (locks + app + platform) or a Complete Offer (including bikes, maintenance, and insurance), with deployment averaging 15 days using existing bike racks rather than docking stations.

Product overview

Fredo is a bike-sharing solution provider offering a semi-free-floating system centered on three integrated components: the Fredo Connected Lock (a high-security smart lock compatible with all bike types), the Fredo Mobile Application (iOS/Android app for user-facing bike rental, unlocking, and payment), and the Fredo Management Platform/Back Office (a customizable fleet management tool for monitoring, analytics, and configuration). The company sells two service tiers — the Standard Offer (connected locks + app + back office + support) and the Complete Offer (Standard + bikes + maintenance + insurance) — targeting three distinct customer segments: local authorities, companies, and tourism operators. Deployment relies on existing bike racks (no docking stations required) and is characterized as station-free, cost-effective, and rapidly deployable (average 15 days).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fredo Connected Lock (Cadenas Connecté) A high-security ART2** certified connected lock that adapts to all types of bikes (electric, muscle-powered, cargo, recycled/reconditioned) and enables smartphone-based unlocking via QR code scanning through the Fredo mobile app over Bluetooth.
• Fredo Mobile Application A mobile app for iOS and Android that enables end users to locate available bikes on an interactive map, unlock locks by scanning QR codes, manage payments and deposits, activate a pause function for parking outside return zones, and report problems.
• Fredo Management Platform (Back Office) A customizable fleet management back-office platform that allows managers to configure branding (logo, colors), set pricing and subscriptions, define return/parking zones on a map, track usage analytics, manage maintenance and user returns, and export quarterly performance reports.
• Standard Offer A foundational service package for local authorities, companies, and tourism operators that bundles Fredo connected locks, the white-label mobile application, the back-office management platform, 7-day user support, quarterly reporting, and tool training.
• Complete Offer (Offre Complète) An all-inclusive service package that bundles everything in the Standard Offer plus bike rental (electric and muscle-powered), fleet dispatching, battery regulation for e-bikes, maintenance services, and insurance coverage; clients may lease Fredo's full fleet or have their own bikes equipped with Fredo locks.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70,000+ trips completed across Fredo's network
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SNCFcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021SNCF partnered with Fredo to deploy connected lock systems on employee bike fleets at its technicentre in Rennes, enabling intermodality for employees commuting from the train station. Fredo equipped an existing fleet of recycled electric bikes with its locks and management platform, enabling autonomous booking, unlocking, and trip tracking. The collaboration generated over 6,000 trips with 22% of employees cycling to work by June 2022.
• Oui Care (O2)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOui Care, France's leading home services company, deployed Fredo's connected lock solution on a fleet of electric bikes at its headquarters in Le Mans. Fredo provides locks, the mobile app, and back-office fleet management, supporting Oui Care's RSE strategy and employee quality of life at work. The company also worked with Atout vélo pro for bike acquisition and maintenance.
• Vienne Condrieu AgglomérationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVienne Condrieu Agglomération was Fredo's first local authority customer, launching the service in July 2021 with 30 bikes across 19 stations. Fredo deployed its station-free connected lock system using existing bike racks. The city expanded its cycling infrastructure and the service was later made permanent through a competitive procurement process won by Fredo.
• Annemasse Agglo / TAC Mobilités / RATPDevcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnemasse Agglo launched an experimental bike-sharing service with Fredo in summer 2023, deploying 30 muscle bikes across 12 virtual stations on 5 communes via the TAC Mobilités transport network (operated by RATPDev). The service offers free first 15 minutes and runs on a trial basis through end of 2023, aiming to address the fact that 50% of trips under 3km are made by car in the Genevois Français area.
• Jazz à VienneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerJazz à Vienne, the major jazz festival in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, partnered with Fredo and Vienne Condrieu Agglomération to promote the bike-sharing service during the festival. Festival-goers received 1 hour of free bike rental (vs. standard 20 minutes) and preferential rates throughout the festival duration.
• Les Ateliers de l'AudaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLes Ateliers de l'Audace, a Viennese social enterprise promoting employment integration through cycling, supplied recycled/reconditioned muscle bikes for Fredo's initial deployment at Vienne. This partnership supports Fredo's circular economy approach and local social impact.
• E-Bike SolutionsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorE-Bike Solutions, a Viennese company and incumbent holder of Vienne's long-term bike rental contract, supplied electric bikes for Fredo's initial deployment. E-Bike Maintenance, a related entity, handles fleet maintenance and e-bike battery regulation for the Vienne deployment.
• Second CycleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecond Cycle, a French specialist in bike reconditioning, supplied Fredo with former Vélib' bikes refurbished and rebranded for Fredo's permanent Vienne deployment. This partnership enables Fredo to offer high-quality recycled bikes at lower cost.
• Réseau Entreprendre RhôneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRéseau Entreprendre Rhône is listed as both a support and financing partner, providing entrepreneurial mentorship and support to Fredo as part of its startup ecosystem backing.
• Manufactory Centre Entrepreneuriat Lyon-Saint-EtienneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Manufactory Entrepreneurship Centre (Université de Lyon) is listed as a support partner providing entrepreneurial resources and ecosystem support to Fredo.
• Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes RegionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region is listed as a support partner, providing regional ecosystem backing for Fredo as a Lyon-based startup.
• French Tech / Les Pépites TechminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFredo is recognized as a startup of La French Tech and Les Pépites Tech, gaining visibility and ecosystem support from the French Tech initiative.
• Dolce ViaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDolce Via, a tourism operator, is listed as a Fredo customer partner in the tourism segment, using Fredo's system for autonomous bike rentals at their tourist sites.
• La Vallée du KiwiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLa Vallée du Kiwi, a tourist attraction in the Ardèche region, partnered with Fredo to offer self-service bike rentals to visitors, with Fredo providing the connected lock system and management platform.
• VelocsudminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVelocsud, a bike tourism operator, used Fredo's system to automate fleet management at a partner campsite during the summer season, with payment, deposit, and bike return all handled in the Fredo app.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Lime: Global dockless micro-mobility operator (e-bikes and e-scooters). While its primary focus is dockless scooters, Lime's connected vehicle platform and municipal contracts place it in the same broader shared-mobility competitive set as Fredo.
• Vélib' Métropole: Paris metropolitan bike-share service operated by Smovengo under JCDecaux. Serves as the reference large-scale docking-based bike-share against which Fredo's station-free mid-size city positioning is contrasted in French municipal pitches.
• TIER Mobility: European micro-mobility operator (now merged with Dott) offering e-bikes and e-scooters across multiple countries. Operates in adjacent dockless/shared mobility space and competes with Fredo for municipal micro-mobility contracts in larger European cities.
• JCDecaux: Global outdoor advertising and street furniture giant that operates major bike-share systems (Cyclocity). Competes with Fredo in large municipal procurement processes, particularly where cities prefer full-service turnkey operators with docking infrastructure.
• Smovengo: French operator of the Vélib' Métropole bike-share system in Paris. While focused on the Paris market, it represents the incumbent model of large-scale docking-based bike-share against which Fredo positions its cheaper, station-free alternative.

Direct peers

• Donkey Republic: Danish shared mobility company offering a B2B bike-share-as-a-service platform with a similar model — semi-station-based, lock-based, and targeting municipalities and tourism operators. Comparable to Fredo in its hardware-agnostic retrofit approach and multi-year municipal contracts.
• Smoove: French bike-share operator using a smart-lock dockless system with virtual stations. Smoove shares Fredo's core technology thesis (connected lock + app + virtual zones) and targets similar municipalities in France, making it the closest direct domestic competitor.
• nextbike: German B2B bike-share platform with a white-label offering for municipalities and corporates. Comparable to Fredo in its multi-country deployment model, partner/reseller ecosystem, and targeting of medium-sized cities where traditional docking systems are uneconomical.
• Beryl: UK-based bike-share platform offering a B2B/B2G model with a connected lock and white-label app, similar to Fredo. Targets municipalities and corporate clients with a focus on sustainability and emissions reduction, closely aligned with Fredo's value proposition.
• Pony: French startup operating dockless bike-share services in French cities with a connected-lock, virtual-station model similar to Fredo. Targets the same medium-sized city and corporate segment and is a direct domestic competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fredo-app

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fredo