Dec 3, 2024
Bolt has launched the Urban Fund, a social impact programme designed to accelerate the societal benefits of shared mobility worldwide.
The programme will support charitable third-sector partnerships that promote sustainable urban and transport planning, empower driver and courier partners on the platform, and engage with local communities where Bolt operates.
Bolt’s mission is to create cities for people, not cars, and this initiative is about moving towards that goal together.
Bolt’s mission is to make cities for people, not cars. We understand that shared mobility is just one component of a city’s transport infrastructure, and to truly transform urban spaces, we must work together to reduce car dependency. At the same time, we remain committed to supporting our users, drivers, and couriers—the backbone of our shared mobility network.
To amplify the impact of our efforts globally, we’re launching a comprehensive strategic program, the Bolt Urban Fund. This initiative will engage global institutions, cities, and local communities while leveraging our team and technology to drive meaningful change in urban environments worldwide.
The Bolt Urban Fund represents a major step forward for Bolt, establishing 2 key areas of focus with colossal potential: Sustainable Urban Living and Economic Empowerment. The third one is to elevate and streamline Bolt’s existing community and emergency response initiatives into a more strategic programme.
To navigate the complexities of urban development, the Bolt Urban Fund focuses on 3 key areas:
Sustainable Urban Living
Promoting green mobility and supporting cutting-edge research to solve pressing transport problems and accelerate sustainable urban mobility.
Economic Empowerment
Empowering Bolt’s driver and courier partners through financial support, training, and language learning, enabling them to achieve their full potential.
Community and Emergency Support
Offering a helping hand during times of crisis and supporting projects that enhance the social, economic, and environmental fabric of the communities Bolt serves.
Keep reading to explore each area in detail.
We want to support those developing urban transport planning across cities where Bolt operates. Bolt has teamed up with one of the world’s leading technical universities, ETH Zurich, to launch a pioneering research initiative — Sustainable Urban Transitions Laboratory (Lab).
The Sustainable Urban Transitions Lab will connect Bolt, ETH Zurich experts, and partner cities to tackle critical urban transport challenges such as tourism seasonality, hybrid work, accessibility, and promoting sustainable travel habits using innovative, data-driven solutions.
Bolt will provide proprietary data, operational expertise, and essential funding to support these efforts, focusing on small- and medium-sized cities that may lack the resources or capacity to address these challenges internally.
By bridging the gap between science and policy, the Lab aims to translate cutting-edge academic research into practical solutions for city planners, accelerating the shift toward sustainable mobility.
In the long term, the Lab seeks to help cities reimagine their streets for a more sustainable urban future by prioritising public spaces for people, not cars. This includes vibrant main streets, user-friendly micromobility solutions, repurposed parking spaces, expanded bike lanes, and improved connections to public transport for longer journeys.
The Bolt Accelerator Programme is a part of the Economic Empowerment focus area. It’s an initiative for Bolt drivers and couriers that has shown excellent results in Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana.
Bolt drivers and courier partners in each country have pitched business ideas that tackle real-world mobility challenges. Top ideas received funding, mentorship, and support through dedicated workshops.
So far, the programme has funded 30 mobility-related start-ups, including a mobile app helping users to quickly access spare parts, a company developing charging stations for electric vehicles, and various fleet management ventures.
Additionally, 360 drivers and couriers have participated in the Bolt Academy skills development programme.
We’re now taking it to the next level by expanding the programme to South Africa. We also plan to extend it to more African and European countries in 2025.
The third focus area for the Bolt Urban Fund is Community and Emergency Support.
Bolt’s community work focuses on collaborating with local communities to improve inclusivity and accessibility through Bolt’s mobility and delivery services.
A recent highlight of this commitment is our partnership with the Bike Project in the UK. This initiative is a heartwarming example of how mobility can transform lives. By refurbishing bikes for refugees, Bolt is helping break down barriers and foster a sense of freedom and belonging.
Additionally, Bolt’s efforts have included providing preferential access to scooters for paramedic teams in Poland and offering free rides to young South Africans attending job interviews.
In times of crisis, such as the invasion of Ukraine and the floods in Kenya, Bolt has demonstrated unwavering support by donating significant funds and adapting its services to assist those in need.We’ll now significantly expand these community-focused activities under the Fund’s Community and Emergency Support pillar.
The Bolt Urban Fund is more than an initiative; it embodies our vision of better cities. Cities made for people, not cars.
Bolt’s vision is clear, but the journey towards more people-centric cities is a collective effort.
If you’re representing an organisation looking to make a difference or a city interested in partnering with the Sustainable Urban Transitions Lab, contact us at urbanfund@bolt.eu. Together, we can redefine urban living and create more inclusive, vibrant, and sustainable cities.
Today is just the start, and we’re excited to share our progress and the stories of those impacted by the Fund’s work in the coming months. Stay tuned for updates!
