What is Lime?
Founded in 2017 and formerly known as LimeBike, Lime is a San Mateo, California-based bicycle-sharing company. It operates dockless electric scooter and bicycle-sharing systems across numerous cities globally. Utilizing a mobile app for reservations and payments, Lime aims to provide sustainable and convenient urban mobility solutions, contributing to reduced traffic congestion and carbon emissions. The company's operational model focuses on deploying fleets of shared electric scooters and bikes, making them accessible for short-distance travel within urban environments.
How much funding has Lime raised?
Lime has raised a total of $1.4B across 6 funding rounds:
Series A
$12M
Series B
$50M
Series C
$335M
Series D
$310M
Other Financing Round
$170M
Debt
$523M
Series A (2017): $12M with participation from Danhua Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Immersion Ventures, and DCM Ventures
Series B (2017): $50M led by NGP Capital, Section 32, GGV Capital, DCM Ventures, Durant Company, Coatue Management, Franklin Templeton Investments, and Andreessen Horowitz
Series C (2018): $335M supported by TRITON FUNDS LLC, Andreessen Horowitz, GIC, Ed Baker, Atomico, Franklin Templeton Investments, Uber, GV, Fidelity Management and Research Company, Coatue Management, Fifth Wall, and Alphabet
Series D (2019): $310M featuring Bain Capital, GV, Fidelity Ventures, IVP, and Andreessen Horowitz
Other Financing Round (2020): $170M backed by GV, Bain Capital Ventures, Alphabet, and Uber
Debt (2021): $523M with participation from Uber, Abu Dhabi Growth Fund, Fidelity Management & Research, and Highbridge Capital Management
Key Investors in Lime
Uber
Uber Technologies is a global technology platform that reimagines how people and goods move by connecting riders, drivers, couriers, restaurants, merchants, and shippers through a unified digital ecosystem. What began as an ondemand ridehailing service has expanded into a multifaceted platform offering personal mobility, food and goods delivery, and logistics services, all powered by proprietary mobile apps and realtime matching technology. Ubers innovationdriven approach enables flexible earning opportunities for service providers while delivering convenient, efficient access to transportation and delivery services around the world, and it continues to evolve its offerings to meet the changing needs of consumers and partners.
Bain Capital
Founded in 1984, Bain Capital is one of the worlds leading private investment firms. The firm is committed to creating lasting impact for its investors, teams, portfolio businesses, and the communities in which it operates. As a private partnership, Bain Capital leads with conviction and fosters a culture of collaborationadvantages that drive innovation in investment strategies, unlock opportunities, and enable the creation of exceptional outcomes. Bain Capital's global platform invests across five core focus areas: Private Equity, Growth & Venture, Capital Solutions, Credit & Capital Markets, and Real Assets. Within these areas, the firm applies deep sector expertise and broad capabilities. Its Special Situations team specializes in capital solutions that offer companies flexible funding tailored to their specific needs, supported by robust operational, strategic, and financial value-add services. The firm operates from 24 offices across four continents, with a team of more than 1,850 employees and approximately $185 billion in assets under management.
GV
GV is a venture capital firm founded in 2001 that invests across multiple stages and sectors. The company focuses on enterprise solutions, life sciences, consumer products, and frontier technology innovations. GV operates globally with presence across North America, Europe, Asia, and South America, providing financial backing to promising startups and growth-stage businesses. The firm maintains a diverse investment portfolio spanning technology, healthcare, and various other industries.
What's next for Lime?
With its recent major strategic investment, Lime is poised to further solidify its market leadership and accelerate its expansion into new territories and service offerings. The substantial capital backing suggests a focus on scaling operations, enhancing its fleet with advanced technology, and potentially exploring new mobility verticals. This financing round indicates strong investor confidence in Lime's business model and its potential to shape the future of urban transportation, likely prioritizing sustainable growth and operational efficiency to meet increasing demand for eco-friendly transit options.
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