OpenStreet

OpenStreet Inc., a SoftBank Group company, operates at the intersection of mobility and data, aiming to redefine urban transportation infrastructures. The company was established on November 1, 2016, following a proposal from SoftBank's internal new business venture program, "SoftBank InnoVenture". Spearheaded by President and CEO Tomoaki Kudo, OpenStreet launched with the mission to solve societal challenges related to urban transport.

The core of OpenStreet's business is its share mobility platform, most notably the "HELLO CYCLING" service, which has grown to become Japan's largest-scale share cycle platform. This service provides a network of shareable, electrically-assisted bicycles that users can rent and return at any designated station through a smartphone application. The platform model allows various business partners to participate by providing land for stations or maintaining the fleet, creating a mutually beneficial ecosystem that enhances urban convenience and promotes tourism. Revenue is primarily generated through a pay-per-use model, with fees based on the duration of the rental, which can vary by area and bicycle model.

Beyond bicycles, OpenStreet has expanded its offerings to include "HELLO MOBILITY" for other forms of micro-mobility and has even launched Japan's first sharing service for seated electric scooters, classified as specific small motorized bicycles. This diversification showcases the company's strategy to provide a comprehensive MaaS (Mobility as a Service) network. Another business pillar is the leveraging of collected mobility data. The company analyzes this big data for new business development and offers advertising services, including OOH (Out-of-Home) ads on bicycles and location-based digital campaigns through its app.

Financially, OpenStreet is backed by major corporations including SoftBank, Z Holdings, ENEOS Holdings, and JR East, among others, indicating strong investor confidence in its platform-based business model and future growth potential. The company has pursued strategic partnerships and capital alliances to enhance its services and explore overseas expansion. This includes integrating with parking sharing services and collaborating on data utilization projects to contribute to smarter city planning and transportation network optimization.

Keywords: mobility as a service, MaaS, bike sharing, scooter sharing, micro-mobility, urban transportation, IoT, smart city, data utilization, platform business, last-mile transportation, HELLO CYCLING, electric bicycle, SoftBank, shared economy, mobility data, location-based services, fleet management, sustainable transport, venture capital