Bird Scooters
Santa Monica, US · Founded 2017 · 952 employees on LinkedIn · 26 known investors
Bird operates a shared electric scooter and e-bike service designed to reduce car trips and emissions in urban environments across multiple continents.
Also known as Bird · Bird Rides
Investors · 26
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Company profile
researched Aug 2026Bird is a shared micromobility operator that deploys electric scooters and e-bikes for short urban trips. Riders use a mobile app to locate a nearby vehicle, scan it to unlock, and ride; the company states a first ride can be started in under a minute. Its stated mission is to make cities more livable by reducing car trips and associated emissions through affordable, accessible shared electric vehicles.
The fleet consists of scooters and e-bikes the company describes as purpose-built for urban environments, with durability and safety as design priorities. Rider-facing safety features include Beginner Mode, ID verification, an in-app Safety School, a "Safe Start" checkpoint intended to discourage riding after drinking, and a Visual Parking System providing parking guidance to keep sidewalks clear. Bird works with city governments and transportation agencies on permits, operations and data-sharing, and makes real-time MDS and GBFS data feeds available to transit agencies and journey-planning apps.
The company reports more than 150 million cumulative rides, service in more than 100 cities, and more than 50,000 tonnes of CO2 avoided.
Founding story
Bird was founded in 2017 in Santa Monica, California, and describes itself as the originator of the shared electric scooter category.
Business model
Bird provides app-based access to shared electric scooters and e-bikes deployed in public urban areas, operating under agreements and permits with city governments. Alongside direct rider operations, the company offers an operations-partner model in which third parties own and run Bird fleets in their city, handling day-to-day fleet tasks or building a full local operation with no upfront vehicle costs, and a corporate-partner channel offering in-app placements and on-vehicle advertising.
Rides are sold to consumers through the Bird app. Additional monetization channels described by the company include brand advertising via hyper-local in-app placements and on-vehicle advertising, and partnerships with operators who own and run Bird fleets locally.
Traction
Bird reports more than 150 million rides taken, service in more than 100 cities, and more than 50,000 tonnes of CO2 avoided. Program-level results include a 54% increase in rides across newly designated Atlanta Housing zones and nearly 200 residents using Bird daily at Culdesac Tempe.
Latest developments
In January 2026 Bird was identified as the exclusive shared micromobility provider for Culdesac Tempe, a car-free neighborhood. In February 2026 Bird and Atlanta Housing launched a combined micromobility, housing and workforce initiative, and in March 2026 Bird published results on expanding equitable mobility access for public housing residents through that partnership.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
Bird states that it pioneered the shared electric scooter category following its 2017 founding and has since expanded to more than 100 cities across North America, Europe, the Middle East and beyond, positioning its service as a complement integrated into existing transit ecosystems rather than a standalone offering.
The company emphasizes purpose-built, durable vehicles, a layered rider-safety stack (Beginner Mode, ID verification, Safety School, Safe Start, Visual Parking System), close collaboration with cities and transit agencies including open MDS/GBFS data feeds, and an operations-partner model that lets local operators run Bird fleets without upfront vehicle costs.
Technology
A rider mobile app handles vehicle location, scan-to-unlock and ride management. Safety and compliance technology includes Beginner Mode, ID verification, in-app Safety School, the Safe Start impairment checkpoint, and a Visual Parking System that gives precise parking guidance. For public-sector integration, Bird publishes real-time vehicle availability through MDS and GBFS data feeds.
Go-to-market
Distribution is through the consumer Bird mobile app combined with city-by-city market entry. Bird pursues four partnership tracks: city partners (launching or expanding shared micromobility, including permits, operations and data sharing), corporate partners (advertising), transit partners (real-time MDS and GBFS data integration into municipal and journey-planning apps), and operations partners (local fleet ownership and operation). Community-oriented programs, such as work with Atlanta Housing and the car-free Culdesac Tempe neighborhood, also serve as market-entry and expansion vehicles.
Urban residents and visitors making short trips, plus institutional counterparties: city governments and transportation agencies, municipal transit agencies and journey-planning apps, housing authorities and residential developments, brands seeking local advertising reach, and local entrepreneurs or operators running fleets.
Geography
Bird lists service in more than 100 cities. The United States accounts for the largest share, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, New York City, Atlanta, Dallas, Austin, Detroit, Minneapolis, Nashville, Phoenix, Tempe and Salt Lake City. Canadian markets include Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa, Halifax, Mississauga and Kamloops. European markets span Spain (Barcelona, Murcia, Gijon, Oviedo, Adeje), Portugal (Lisbon, Braga, Coimbra, Cascais, Funchal, Portimao, Oeiras), Italy (Rome, Milan, Florence, Torino, Napoli, Palermo, Bibione), France (Ajaccio, Agen, Blois, Vichy, Laval, Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, Chalons-en-Champagne) and Switzerland (Zurich, Basel, Lausanne). The company also operates in Tel Aviv and describes coverage of the Middle East.
History
Founded in 2017 in Santa Monica, California, Bird launched shared electric scooters and subsequently expanded its fleet to include e-bikes and its footprint to cities across North America, Europe, the Middle East and other regions, reaching more than 100 cities and over 150 million cumulative rides. Recent milestones include becoming the exclusive shared micromobility provider for the car-free Culdesac Tempe neighborhood (January 2026) and launching a joint micromobility, housing and workforce initiative with Atlanta Housing (February 2026).
Compiled by commissioned research from 1 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Competitors · 7
by search overlap
Companies competing with Bird Scooters for the same Google search keywords, organic and paid, via search-intersection analysis.
Timeline · 2
launches, deals, and filingsBird and Atlanta Housing launched what the company describes as the nation's first combined micromobility, housing and workforce initiative, associated with a 54% increase in rides across newly designated Atlanta Housing zones.
Bird serves as the exclusive shared micromobility provider for Culdesac Tempe, described as the nation's first car-free neighborhood, where nearly 200 residents use the service daily.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
In the news
▸Research sources · 1
primary sources listed
- Bird Scootersbird.co · web
1 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Bird Scooters do?
- Bird operates shared electric scooters and e-bikes in more than 100 cities across North America, Europe and the Middle East.
- Who are Bird Scooters's investors?
- Bird Scooters's investors include Accel, Alate Partners, Canaan Partners, CoastCap, Comcast Ventures, Craft Ventures, CRV (Charles River Ventures), Designer Fund and 18 more.
- Where is Bird Scooters headquartered?
- Bird Scooters is headquartered in Santa Monica, US.