Editor's note: This story has been edited to reflect the fact that a lawsuit issued against the original founders of Skully Inc. by a former employee was dropped and is not pending litigation.
The new founder of a motorcycle helmet startup with a controversial history is launching another initiative in Atlanta to bring an electric scooter sharing service to residents.
Muving, which will reportedly launch in Midtown, is a European moped rental company founded by Ivan Contreras, one of the new founders behind Skully Technologies, Torrot GasGas and Sensefields.
According to a launch invitation, Atlanta will be the first of several markets where Muving will deploy in North America.
With a Muving electric moped, riders will be able to access two helmets, ride within a range of 45 miles and reach speeds as fast as 30 MPH. Users will be charged 15 to 35 cents per minute, and Atlanta customers currently have the option to ride their first 30 minutes free with a promo code, according to Muving's website.
More than 6,000 users have ridden the 75 mopeds available in Granada, Spain, Muving's original launch city, but this company is just one of many popping up all over Europe.
Several major European cities have seen a growing fleet of "motorsharing" scooter companies enter their markets, like Muving, Coup, Scoot and others. According to Invers, a German-based mobility services company, there are now more than 8,000 shared scooters on the road globally.
Muving will officially launch at an event hosted by Skully Technologies on Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. at 415 Plasters Ave NE., Suite 200.
But the history behind Skully Technologies isn't the most reassuring startup backstory.
Formally branded Skully Inc., the San Fransisco-based startup planned to launch the world's first smart motorcycle helmets and garnered attention in the industry after launching a successful crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo.
But it's been nearly four years since the company founders allegedly misspent with more than $2.4 million of crowdfunding money meant to kickstart helmet production and spent company funds on vacations, sports cars, ventures to the strip club and more.
A former employee of the company filed a lawsuit in August 2016, which alleged the startup was setup as a "sham" to fund the lifestyle of founding brothers Marcus and Mitchell Weller, according to the LA Times.
The lawsuit has since been dropped by the former employee, who publicly retracted her statements in a press release issued by the Wellers. The employee said she ended the lawsuit on her own accord after new information about the company came to light.
According to a recent piece with The Street, the company's name was changed and moved to Atlanta after Ivan Contreras and his cousin, Rafael Contreras, took over the startup, revamped the leadership team and vowed to make things right with original backers.
After relocating to Atlanta, the rebranded Skully Technologies told WABE, Atlanta's NPR affiliate, that the company was starting fresh and would make things right by their original backers; a leader at the company said the startup was working on 2,000 helmets retailed at about $1,899 a piece to send out to its initial donors at no charge. The helmets are set to start shipping to the backers this summer.
