HopOn

HopOn, registered as HopOn Ltd., operates as a technology provider specializing in mobility-as-a-service (MaaS), mobile ticketing, and data collection for the public transportation sector. Founded in 2012 by David Mezuman and Ofer Sinai, the company emerged from the founders' personal experiences as daily bus commuters and former accountants at major firms. They identified a market need to streamline the cumbersome cash-based payment process on public transport and, without a technical background themselves, initially hired a software developer to build a prototype. This led to the development of a system allowing passengers to pay for transit via their smartphones.

The company's core offering is a cloud-based platform that serves public transport operators (PTOs), municipalities, and smart city organizations. HopOn's technology facilitates a transition to account-based, post-paid billing models, providing real-time data on passenger volumes and travel patterns that enable clients to optimize routes and services. The platform is hardware-free, utilizing a patented validation process that can be based on high-frequency ultrasonic sound waves emitted from a beacon, which a passenger's smartphone app detects to validate the ride. This system supports various ticketing scenarios, including Check-In/Check-Out (CICO) and Check-in/Be-Out (CIBO). Revenue is generated by charging a commission on each ticket transaction.

Significant milestones mark HopOn's trajectory, starting with early pilot programs with major Israeli transport companies like Dan Public Transportation Ltd. after receiving approval from the Ministry of Transport. The company has since expanded its services to serve over a million users monthly in Israel across more than 30 transport authorities and companies. A key growth strategy has been European expansion through strategic acquisitions. In 2021, HopOn acquired UK-based ECR, a payments solution firm, for $10 million, a move financed by an investment from UMI Auto Group. This was followed in 2022 by the acquisition of TAFmobile, a German company specializing in ticketing solutions and mobility platforms.

Keywords: mobile ticketing, public transportation, mobility-as-a-service, MaaS, transit data, smart city technology, account-based ticketing, transport payment solutions, passenger data analytics, fleet optimization, urban mobility, ultrasonic validation, contactless payment, transit ticketing platform, public transit operators, fare collection, European expansion, ECR acquisition, TAFmobile acquisition, David Mezuman, Ofer Sinai