MOSA Uses Smartphone-Opened Chains to Fight Bike and E-Scooter Theft

Bike and e-scooter sharing and renting have become more popular in recent years due to being convenient, inexpensive, and an environmentally-friendly transportation options. However, a variety of problems, including theft, have led to the failure of sharing and renting companies in cities across the US. MOSA is looking to change that.

MOSA’s Technology

The security startup wants to fight against the increase in bike and e-scooter thefts with smartphone-opened chains. The chains secure bikes and e-scooters to bike racks, and they can only be unlocked using a smartphone app. The app utilizes Bluetooth to interface with the lock.

According to Josh Liu, co-founder of Mosa, “If we want to get more people on bikes, cities need to address bicycle parking security issues for cyclists.” That is what he set out to solve, along with fellow co-founder Simon Laumet, an industrial designer.

But MOSA is creating more than a simple lock. There are features that make the chain a fantastic deterrent, starting with a chain that is difficult to cut or break. There is also an app, which allows users to add another layer of security in the form of an alarm, which acts much like a car alarm in the sense that it alerts the owner if the chain is tampered with.

MOSA is targeting more than security. It is also providing benefits to space owners and employers, offering an entire platform of features. Some of what MOSA offers to riders, space owners, and employers include:

• Diamond-rated secure lock and theft detection
• The ability to reserve secure parking spaces and free secure parking
• Parking management automation
• The ability to easily identify and deal with abandoned bikes and e-scooters
• Gamified experience with incentive settings to engage employees

MOSA offers solutions on multiple fronts, making it easier to manage parking as a space owner and avoiding the problem of abandoned bikes and e-scooters. Moreover, it has already secured partnerships with several sharing companies that will make it easier for them to offer secure solutions to users.

Positive Reception and Future

Although the company and its technology are new, it has already received positive feedback from users and experts. After all, it is solving multiple problems, including theft, which is a major barrier to entry for concerned users. Nobody wants to spend money on something that could be easily stolen.

While there is no guarantee that bikes and e-scooters will take off in the near future, the sharing system has already gained interest in many cities. It is especially likely to catch on in dense urban areas, where many trips are short-distance and both driving and parking can be tedious.

Mosa raised $429 million through the European Institute of Innovation and Technology’s Urban Mobility program. Additionally, a large-scale trial took place in Tel Aviv, Israel, last November. There will be another trial at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, London, which is in partnership with the London Legacy Development Corporation.