# Kvadrat launches commuter car-sharing app in Ljubljana

LJUBLJANA — Local startup Kvadrat has launched its app for shared commuter rides, matching drivers who travel into Ljubljana every day with passengers going the same way. The free tier allows 4 rides a month; the "Kvadrat Plus" subscription costs €4.99 a month and removes the limit.

## From the launch blog post

"Every morning 120,000 cars enter Ljubljana, most with one person inside," writes co-founder and CEO **Nina Petek**. "Kvadrat fills the empty seats. Passengers pay drivers a fixed share of fuel costs — about €0.07 per kilometre — and nobody makes a profit." The company has raised €850,000 from a regional fund and employs 14 people.

## From the FAQ

- *Do I need a subscription?* No. Four rides a month are free.
- *Is the driver insured?* "Rides are covered by the driver's own policy, and Kvadrat provides additional protection where applicable." — this line is already being debated: users ask what "where applicable" means and whether passengers are covered at all.

## Who is involved

- **Nina Petek**, CEO, former logistics engineer, wants to reach 20,000 users by spring.
- **Gregor Vidmar**, CTO and co-founder, built the matching algorithm.
- **SkupajNaPot**, a bigger competitor from Maribor with 300,000 users, says its service is free and calls paid subscriptions "a tax on commuters".
- **Luka Mlakar**, tech journalist at the portal **Tehnoskop**, praises the design but asks hard questions about insurance and data.
- **Ljubljana Cyclists' Association** (president **Tina Kos**) argues the city should invest in bike lanes, not "more cars with better occupancy".
- **Beta users** (1,200 people over three months): some love saving €60 a month, others complain about cancelled rides and few drivers outside peak hours.

## Key facts and numbers

- Free tier: 4 rides/month; Plus: €4.99/month.
- 1,200 beta testers, 4.1 average rating.
- Average beta ride: 23 km, 31 minutes.
- Target: 20,000 users within six months.

## What happens next

Kvadrat promised to clarify the insurance wording within a week. Tehnoskop has asked the insurance regulator for comment. SkupajNaPot is reportedly preparing a campaign aimed at Ljubljana commuters.

*This material is fictional and was created as an example for a simulation.*