Evaluating only EcoRide CR’s profile at its peak — without knowing the outcome — the model ranked Competition as the #1 likely cause. Documented cause: Unit economics.
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FOUNDING
MILESTONE
CRISIS
SHUTDOWN
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Documented cause
EcoRide CR launched shared electric scooter and e-bike services in San José and Escazú, positioning around Costa Rica's eco-conscious culture and urban congestion. The company secured 300 scooters and built a mobile app. However, San José's hilly terrain dramatically reduced average battery range and increased maintenance costs. The Municipal Government of San José issued conflicting regulations about where scooters could operate and park, creating operational unpredictability. When Lime entered Costa Rica in mid-2020 with pricing subsidised below EcoRide's cost floor, the startup could not compete.
Lesson
“Map city terrain before choosing micro-mobility vehicle type — e-scooters designed for flat cities have unacceptable unit economics in hilly urban geography.”