Pollen Raises €3.2 Million Seed Round to Expand Battery-Swapping Network for Electric Two-Wheelers Across Europe
Pollen, a Lisbon-based clean mobility startup developing a universal battery-swapping network for electric mopeds and motorcycles, has raised €3.2 million in seed funding as it seeks to accelerate the adoption of electric two-wheelers and expand its infrastructure across Europe.
The funding round was led by Pale Blue Dot and Mustard Seed Maze, with participation from Kfund, Bynd Venture Capital, 4P Capital, Masia, and a group of mobility-focused angel investors. The newly raised capital will be used to expand Pollen’s battery-swapping infrastructure, grow its team, and support commercial deployment in additional European markets.
Founded by Rui Bento and Miguel Mota, Pollen is building what it describes as a universal battery-swapping ecosystem designed specifically for electric two-wheelers. The company aims to solve one of the most significant barriers to electric vehicle adoption in urban environments: charging convenience. Instead of waiting for batteries to recharge, riders can exchange depleted batteries for fully charged units in less than a minute through Pollen’s network of swapping stations.
The startup has emerged from stealth mode after several years of product development and testing. Its technology is designed to create interoperability between electric mopeds, motorcycles, batteries, and charging infrastructure. By standardizing battery exchange across multiple vehicle brands and operators, Pollen hopes to make electric mobility more practical and scalable for both consumers and fleet operators.
Urban transportation is increasingly shifting toward electrification as governments seek to reduce emissions and improve air quality. While electric cars have attracted substantial investment and infrastructure development, electric two-wheelers remain an important but often overlooked segment of the market. In many European cities, scooters and motorcycles play a critical role in personal mobility, delivery services, and shared transportation systems. However, charging times and limited infrastructure have slowed adoption. Pollen believes battery swapping can help overcome these obstacles by offering a faster and more flexible alternative to conventional charging.
The company has already deployed its first operational battery-swapping network in Lisbon. Stations are active at selected locations, including service stations operated by Galp, providing riders with access to rapid battery replacement. Through this initial rollout, Pollen has been able to test operational performance, user behavior, and infrastructure requirements before expanding into additional markets.
Investors backing the company are betting on the growing demand for sustainable urban mobility solutions. Battery-swapping technology has gained traction in several Asian markets, particularly in regions where two-wheelers dominate transportation. Pollen is attempting to adapt that model for European cities while addressing local regulatory, operational, and infrastructure challenges. The company’s approach focuses on creating a shared ecosystem that can be adopted by vehicle manufacturers, fleet operators, and mobility providers rather than developing proprietary solutions tied to a single brand.
The participation of climate-focused investors reflects increasing venture capital interest in technologies that can accelerate transportation decarbonization. For investors, the opportunity extends beyond battery infrastructure itself. A successful swapping network could create recurring revenue streams through subscriptions, battery management services, fleet partnerships, and energy optimization capabilities. As electric two-wheeler adoption increases, scalable infrastructure solutions are expected to become increasingly important.
Pollen’s technology is designed to simplify operations for fleet owners and commercial mobility providers by reducing vehicle downtime and eliminating the need for lengthy charging sessions. This could be particularly valuable for delivery services and shared mobility operators that depend on high vehicle utilization rates. The company believes that a network-based approach can lower barriers to electrification while improving economics for businesses operating large fleets of two-wheelers.
With fresh backing from Pale Blue Dot, Mustard Seed Maze, Kfund, Bynd Venture Capital, 4P Capital, Masia, and additional angel investors, Pollen is entering its next stage of growth. The company plans to scale its network beyond Portugal and establish itself as a key infrastructure provider for electric two-wheel mobility across Europe. As cities continue to prioritize cleaner transportation alternatives, Pollen is positioning battery swapping as a critical component of the continent’s evolving urban mobility ecosystem.
