The Lightfoot Initiative

What The Lightfoot Initiative does

The Lightfoot Initiative Charitable Trust (CC59554), founded in 2021 and headquartered in Frankton, Queenstown Lakes District, New Zealand, is a registered non-profit that promotes shared and active travel through a portfolio of community programmes. It serves approximately 2,000 people across Queenstown, Frankton, Wānaka, Arrowtown, Arthur's Point, and Central Otago, with primary customer segments being local residents, families with school-age children, local workplaces (50+ in Active8), and schools. Its stated long-term goal—Vision 2035—is to enable car-free living in Queenstown Lakes urban centres and to support a step-change in active-travel mode share.

The organization operates nine distinct initiatives rather than a unified software product: Carpoolin (a free NZ-developed carpooling app for iOS and Android), OneBike (a community bike hub that rescues, repairs, and rehomes donated bikes), GoGo Electro (a free 3-week e-bike library with cargo, trail, and road options), Active8 (workplace commuter programmes), CRUNCH (bicycle metal recycling in partnership with Phoenix Recycling), Lightfoot Express (after-school transport at NZ$8.50/ride from Queenstown Primary to Frankton), Commuter Connect (a six-month route-activation programme on the Sutherland Track between Queenstown and Arthur's Point), and education programmes Little Pedallers and Wheel Wizards. Technology is limited to the Carpoolin application and standard community/web tooling; no proprietary platform, AI/ML, or API is offered.

Revenue is grant- and donation-driven rather than commercial. Funding sources include Waka Kotahi (NZ Transport Agency) and Queenstown Lakes District Council (including the Waste Minimisation Fund) under co-funded programmes such as Transport Choices / Commuter Connect, plus charitable trust grants from Central Lakes Trust and Community Trust South. Community income consists of a suggested NZ$5 donation/membership and Lightfoot Express ride fees; all other programmes are free to participants. The organization is led by Co-Founder and General Manager Amanda Robinson with under 10 paid staff, supported by trustees, volunteers, and pro-bono engineering input from Wyatt + Gray Architects, Holmes Consulting, and Stantec for infrastructure advocacy.

Name

The Lightfoot Initiative

Legal name

The Lightfoot Initiative Charitable Trust

Website

https://lightfoot.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Lightfoot Initiative is a New Zealand charitable trust (CC59554) that promotes shared and active travel across the Queenstown Lakes District through community programmes including a carpooling app, e-bike library, community bike rescue hub, after-school transport service, and workplace commuter initiatives, serving approximately 2,000 residents and 50+ local businesses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Transport Advocacy & Community Active Travel Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190)

SIC

Transportation Services (4700), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community / Neighborhood & Social Network Carpooling (THADAFAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized) (THAAAGAF), Transportation & Access Services (Shuttles, Ferry Access, Scenic Drives Permits) (THAAAGAC), National Park & Protected Area Tours (THAJAIAA)

Keywords

• Active travel programmes
• Sustainable transport advocacy
• Community cycling initiatives
• Bike rescue and repair
• Shared mobility services

Headquarters

HQ city

Frankton

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Membership: Lightfoot accepts donations ($5 suggested) and operates a membership model offering benefits including advocacy participation, event invites, and free access to e-bike and active travel programs.
2. Program Fees: Some programs charge fees: Lightfoot Express after-school transport at $8.50 per ride. Most programs are free to participants including GoGo Electro e-bike trials, OneBike bike hub, and bike maintenance courses.
3. Government Funding and Grants: Lightfoot receives funding from Waka Kotahi (NZ Transport Agency), Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC), and various charitable trusts including Central Lakes Trust and Community Trust South for specific programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Lightfoot Initiative Charitable Trust operates a portfolio of community-based active and shared travel programmes in the Queenstown Lakes District, New Zealand. Offerings include the Carpoolin rideshare app, GoGo Electro e-bike library, OneBike community bike hub (rescue/repair/rehome), CRUNCH bike metal recycling, Lightfoot Express after-school transport, Active8 workplace commuter programmes, and Commuter Connect route activations, supported by free community education workshops such as Little Pedallers and Wheel Wizards.

Product overview

The Lightfoot Initiative is a charitable trust operating in the Queenstown Lakes District that serves as an umbrella organization managing multiple community-based active and shared travel initiatives. Rather than a unified software product, the organization operates a portfolio of complementary programmes: Carpoolin (carpooling app), Active8 (workplace travel), OneBike (bike rescue/repair hub), GoGo Electro (e-bike library), Crunch (bike recycling), Commuter Connect (commuter route activations), Lightfoot Express (children's after-school transport), and educational programmes like Little Pedallers and Wheel Wizards. These initiatives collectively aim to reduce car dependency and promote sustainable transport in the Wakatipu region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Carpoolin Free, NZ-developed carpooling app connecting locals in Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago to share rides for commutes, errands, and ski field trips, helping reduce congestion and travel costs.
• Active8

Quantifiable outcome

• 7.2 tonnes CO2 saved per month during Aotearoa Bike Challenge
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and supporting.

• Phoenix RecyclingcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Recycling partner recovering metal from CRUNCH bicycle recycling program. Processes metal via mechanical treatment to make new metals.
• Wyatt + Gray ArchitectskeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteered time to develop bridge concept design for Jim's Way crossing of SH6. Collaborated with Lightfoot and Queenstown Trails Trust on solution for unsafe crossing point.
• Holmes ConsultingkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering consultancy contributed volunteer expertise to develop bridge solution concept for A2 route SH6 crossing.
• StanteckeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering firm provided volunteer support to identify bridge solution for connecting communities across SH6.
• Queenstown Trails TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating on trail network advocacy including Jim's Way Bridge campaign, A2 route improvements, and active travel infrastructure planning.
• Around the BasinsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides return transport for bikes on Sutherland Track bike bus, enabling younger children to pedal one way only.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sustrans: UK-based charity operating the National Cycle Network and active-travel advocacy at national scale. Comparable as a much larger active-travel charitable organization running community bike programs, employer engagement, and infrastructure advocacy; analogous operating model scaled to a national remit.
• BlaBlaCar: Global carpooling platform with millions of users. Direct product analog to Carpoolin in functionality and shared-travel mission, though operating at vastly larger scale and with a commercial (rather than charitable) business model.

Direct peers

• Living Streets Aotearoa: New Zealand walking and active-transport advocacy organization focused on walkable communities and infrastructure. Comparable as a peer charitable trust promoting modal shift, working with councils, and delivering community education programs on sustainable transport.
• Generation Zero: NZ youth-led climate advocacy organization running campaigns on transport mode shift and public transport. Comparable as a New Zealand nonprofit combining community mobilization, transport-policy advocacy, and government engagement to drive behavior change away from car dependency.
• Bike Auckland: NZ cycling advocacy nonprofit running community rides, Bike Challenge events, and active-travel campaigns. Directly comparable as a New Zealand-based charitable organization promoting cycling adoption, employer engagement, and local-government advocacy for active transport infrastructure.
• Around the Basin: Local Queenstown/Wānaka commuter bus service that already partners with Lightfoot (Sutherland Track bike bus). Comparable as a regional shared-transport operator addressing the same car-dependency problem in the same basin.
• Queenstown Trails Trust: Local Queenstown trails charity that builds and maintains the trail network Lightfoot's active-travel users ride on. Direct collaborator (Jim's Way Bridge, A2 route) and highly comparable as a community trust delivering shared/active transport infrastructure in the same geography.

Others

• Otago Regional Council: Regional government body Lightfoot engages with on public transport planning and the legislated 40% mode-shift target. Comparable as a public-sector counterpart responsible for the broader transport outcomes Lightfoot's programs are designed to contribute to.
• Waka Kotahi (NZ Transport Agency): National transport agency that funds Lightfoot's Commuter Connect and Transport Choices programs. Comparable as a stakeholder rather than a competitor; relevant as a funder and policy counterpart that shapes the active-travel funding environment Lightfoot depends on.

Regional players

• Sustainable Queenstown: Regional sustainability organization operating in Queenstown with overlapping community engagement and transport topics. Lightfoot staff (Jen Smart) have engaged directly with Sustainable Queenstown on bike commuting and transport — strong peer overlap in mission and geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/the_lightfoot_initiative
• Facebookfacebook.com/lightfootinitiative
• Instagraminstagram.com/the_lightfoot_initiative
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-lightfoot-initiative

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 The Lightfoot Initiative