Stairling, a French mobility startup, has acquired the MySam VTC platform and rebranded it as Staircab, marking a significant expansion of its white-label ride-hailing service for corporate clients. The acquisition grants the company immediate access to approximately 200,000 corporate clients and 18,000 drivers operating across 200 to 350 cities.
The deal represents a strategic move for Stairling, which has been building its business model around a cooperative framework that emphasizes driver autonomy and earnings control. By integrating MySam—a platform founded in 2016 with established market presence—Stairling now offers hotels, airports, tourism offices, and other large organizations a ready-made B2B mobility solution under the Staircab banner.
Complementary Strengths Drive Strategic Combination
Mimoun El Alami, a key figure at Stairling, highlighted the synergies between the two entities: “Nos deux solutions sont très complémentaires. Stairling apporte un cadre plus stable, dans lequel les chauffeurs gardent le contrôle de leur activité et de leur rémunération. MySam apporte son expertise terrain et des outils concrets pour aider les chauffeurs à développer leur propre clientèle.”
The combination positions Stairling to offer institutional customers a turnkey platform while maintaining the cooperative principles that differentiate its approach from traditional ride-hailing competitors. MySam’s operational expertise and driver support tools complement Stairling’s governance model, creating what the company describes as a more balanced ecosystem for independent drivers.
Growth Stage Funding and Fintech Expansion
Stairling has raised €1.5 million to date from investors including Plug and Play Ventures, Kima Ventures, Source Ventures, and 199 Ventures. The company is currently finalizing an additional funding round that will support two key objectives: obtaining an ACPR licence—the French financial regulator’s authorization—and expanding its fintech capabilities within the gig economy.
The ACPR licence would enable Stairling to handle driver payments directly, a critical feature for a company positioning itself as a financial services player rather than merely a transportation platform. This regulatory approval would represent a significant milestone, allowing the startup to offer more comprehensive financial solutions to its driver partners while providing corporate clients with integrated payment infrastructure.
European Context
The acquisition underscores the ongoing consolidation within Europe’s fragmented mobility sector. While major platforms like Uber and Bolt dominate consumer markets, B2B and niche mobility services remain highly localized. Stairling’s strategy of acquiring established platforms rather than building from scratch reflects a pragmatic approach taken by several European startups seeking rapid market consolidation. The emphasis on driver cooperatives and fintech integration also aligns with a growing movement across Europe toward alternative mobility models that prioritize worker protections and regulatory compliance—priorities that increasingly influence investment decisions in the continent’s transportation sector.