Nox Mobility, a Berlin-based startup, has secured €2 million in pre-seed funding to develop a new generation of overnight rail services featuring fully private rooms. The funding round was led by IBB Ventures, with additional support from Italian investor Tommaso Lucca and industry figures such as Dr Patrick Andrae, co-founder and CEO of HomeToGo.
The capital will be used to expand the team, construct a full-scale mock-up, and prepare for the launch of its first routes in 2027.
Decline and revival of night trains in Europe
While night trains have seen a recent surge in popularity, the overall market has been in decline for decades, the press release says. Between 2001 and 2019, the number of weekly night train services in Europe fell from approximately 1,200 to around 450. Despite this, demand for overnight rail travel has increased, with record bookings reported on several popular routes.
Private rooms and airline-style reliability
Unlike traditional night trains, which often require passengers to share compartments, Nox Mobility aims to provide each traveller with a private space. The company positions its service as an alternative to short-haul flights and hotel stays, offering comparable pricing. Trains will depart from central stations in the evening and arrive at city-centre destinations the following morning, eliminating the need for airport transfers and security checks.
Nox Mobility plans to combine the reliability of airline operations with a hospitality-focused experience inspired by boutique hotels. The service is designed to appeal to both leisure and business travellers, with business users currently accounting for 30% of night train passengers in France.
The company emphasises thoughtful design, personalised onboard service, and consistent timetables to make overnight rail travel more predictable, affordable, and enjoyable.
Investor confidence and industry support
Roman Pimonov, senior investment manager at IBB Ventures, commented, “Berlin has a history of producing mobility companies that have reshaped European travel. Nox has the team, financial backing, and operational credibility to do it again. The infrastructure is already in place; what’s needed is a product people actually want to use.”
Dr Patrick Andrae, CEO and co-founder of HomeToGo, added, “European rail is a more sustainable travel option, which is why we prioritise trains over planes for business travel. Nox is advancing this vision by delivering sustainability without compromising on hospitality or comfort, a rare combination in European mobility.”
Founders with rail and mobility expertise
Nox Mobility was founded in 2025 by entrepreneurs with experience in rail, mobility platforms, and technology startups. Thibault Constant previously built one of Europe’s largest railway media communities, Simply Railway, which has over 600,000 subscribers. Janek Smalla brings operational expertise from FlixTrain and Bolt, while Artur Hasselbach co-founded the payment fintech orderbird, which was acquired by Nexi for over €140 million.
Artur Hasselbach stated, “Night trains represent one of Europe’s last major untapped mobility opportunities. The infrastructure is already there, and the market is ready. This funding round demonstrates investor confidence in our approach to creating a desirable product with a viable business model.”
Janek Smalla added, “While many new rail operators are emerging in Europe, we aim to redefine the perception of night trains by focusing on a hospitality-first experience.”
Thibault Constant noted, “Our community of over 600,000 railway enthusiasts regularly highlights the shortcomings of current night train services- shared compartments, delays, and pricing. Nox Mobility is the result of years of engaging with customers and identifying what works and what doesn’t.”
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