The Micromobility Podcast

Bike Club CEO & Founder James Symes joins host Prabin Joel Jones to share how a side hustle renting kids’ bikes turned into one of Europe’s fastest-growing mobility subscription companies. From maxed-out credit cards and home deliveries to 70,000 members across the UK and Germany, James breaks down Bike Club’s business model, lessons from scaling, the realities of profitability, and why circul...

Brussels has been one of the most progressive European cities in embracing shared mobility, bike lanes, and urban redesign. In this episode, Prabin Joel Jones, CEO of Micromobility Industries & Mayten, sits down with Martin Lefrancq, New Mobility Policy Advisor at Brussels Mobility, to unpack how the Belgian capital went from free-floating chaos to a model for thoughtful regulation, multimodal...

At 75, legendary auto exec Dr. Wolfgang Ziebart is launching a brand-new micromobility category with the XYTE ONE. It is a three-wheel, tilting, seat-belted urban vehicle that blends car-like safety with motorcycle agility. Guest host Horace Dediu digs into design choices, safety, performance, go-to-market, and why this product could unlock a new class of riders, especially safety-conscious non-ri...

What’s Next for Voi? Fireside Chat with CEO Fredrik Hjelm | Micromobility Europe 2025 In this in-depth fireside chat, Fredrik Hjelm, Co-Founder & CEO of Voi, joins Tech.eu’s Robin Wauters live at Micromobility Europe 2025 to reflect on Voi's 7-year journey from the chaotic early days of scooter wars to becoming a profitable, semi-public micromobility leader operating in 110+ cities across Euro...

In this candid fireside chat from Micromobility Europe 2025 in Brussels, Stewart Lyons , Co-CEO of Bird and Spin, sits down with James Gross , Co-Founder of Micromobility Industries, for a wide-ranging conversation on the past, present, and future of shared mobility. Topics covered include: - Bird's journey through bankruptcy and its turnaround strategy - Why "rides" are the ultimate health metric...

At Micromobility Europe 2025 in Brussels, TechCrunch senior reporter Rebecca Bellan sits down with three of the industry’s most influential CEOs to unpack where shared e-scooters and e-bikes are heading next. Panel: - Michael Wahinushi - Co-CEO, Bird/Spin - Fredrik Hjelm - Co-Founder & CEO, Voi - Henri Moissinac - Co-Founder & CEO, Tier-Dott They unpack the current state and future of micr...

In this firesidechat from Micromobility Europe 2025, Maxim, the president and co-founder of Tier-Dott, shares his journey into the micromobility sector, discussing the evolution of bike sharing, the lessons learned from his experience with Ofo, and the strategic decisions that led to the formation of TierDot. He emphasizes the importance of a conservative growth approach, the challenges and synerg...

In this episode of the Micromobility Podcast, host Prabin Joel Jones sits down with Eliott Wertheimer , co-CEO of VanMoof, to explore the bold journey of reviving one of the world’s most recognized e-bike brands.  Eliott shares his unique transition from aerospace engineering to the fast-paced world of micromobility, and the intense process behind acquiring VanMoof after its bankruptcy. The conver...

In this episode of the Micromobility Podcast, host Prabin Joel Jones sits down with Paul-Adrien Cormerais , CEO and founder of Pony , the French micromobility company redefining shared transportation. From his early days as a quant in London to launching a hardware-driven, community-funded mobility startup, Paul-Adrien shares the bold decisions behind Pony’s growth, including their pioneering Adop...

What happens when one of the biggest names in micromobility files for bankruptcy? In this exclusive interview, Bird Co-CEO Michael Washinushi joins host Prabin Joel Jones to break down the company’s dramatic turnaround. From Chapter 11 restructuring to a bold shift in strategy, discover how Bird is rebuilding its position as a leader in sustainable urban transportation. Learn how Michael transitio...

In this episode of the Micromobility Podcast, host Prabin Joel Jones speaks with Tobias W. Balchen, CEO of RYDE, discusses the journey of the company from its founding in Norway to becoming the largest operator in the Nordic micromobility market. He shares insights on the business model, profitability strategies, pricing dynamics, operational challenges, and the importance of software development...

In this episode of the Micro Mobility Podcast, host Prabin Joel Jones speaks with Kristian Brink, CEO of Urban Sharing, about the evolution and future of bike share systems. They discuss the history of bike share, the transition from station-based to dockless systems, the impact of technology, and the various business models that sustain these services. The conversation also touches on the profita...

 Leading up to Micromobility Europe, James Gross talks about the state of micromobility in Europe with Prabin Joel Jones, Founder and CEO of Mayten, along with Augustin Friedel, Senior Manager, MHP – A Porsche Company, who is sharing his personal views on the podcast.     Topics Discussed:      Shared and Owned Micromobility      Prabin takes us through the Tier and Dott merger:    Tier/Dott deal ...

 Apple is reportedly exiting the car industry, focusing instead on software and mobility services. The company's decision is driven by the challenges and complexities of the automotive industry, including high costs, long product cycles, and difficulty in making significant contributions. Apple's future in mobility may lie in micromobility and smart accessories for vehicles.   🚗 Apple's decision...

 On this episode of Ride On!, we are talking with Tyson Roehrkasse, the Chief Reviewer at our sister company, Ride Review. Tyson has been with us now for around 4 months and comes from a tremendous background in electric bike reviews, with the majority of his time spent working with Electric Bike Review, the OG of the ebike review space.         Highlights:  - 🚲 Reviews play a crucial role in the...

Arnold Kamler, CEO of Kent International, discusses the evolution of his family's three generations of the bicycle business from its inception in 1906 to the present day. The journey includes the transition from retail to wholesale, adapting to market trends like racing and mountain bikes, overcoming challenges during the financial crisis and COVID-19, manufacturing in the US, moving it to Europe,...

Rerun: This episode was originally aired on 22 December 2023. In an emergency podcast episode of Ride On!, James Gross and guest Prabin Joel Jones discuss the Chapter 11 bankruptcy of Bird, one of the high flying shared micromobility companies over the last 5 years.. They delve into the financial challenges and strategic missteps of Bird and other companies in the shared micromobility space, consi...

Oliver Bruce is back for this episode!  Upway is an innovative company in the e-bike marketplace, specializing in the refurbishment and resale of electric bikes. Founded in 2021 and headquartered in Paris, France, Upway has made significant strides in the e-bike industry. Toussaint Wattinne, the CEO and co-founder of Upway, along with co-founder Stéphane Ficaja, have backgrounds in leading roles a...

Melvin Lian is the Founder and CEO of @VoroMotors. He discusses his company's journey, from its beginnings in Singapore to its current base in Los Angeles. Melvin detailed the challenges he faced in Singapore, including strict regulations that culminated in an overnight ban on scooters. Melvin also talks about the company's innovations in seated scooters, its distribution of Kaboo and Dualtron sco...

With more Americans dying in car crashes than at any point since the 1970s, the data increasingly shows robotaxis make cities safe for micromobility. Edward Niedermeyer talks to @Waymo about how AVs can help eliminate the dangers of human driving, at Micromobility America 2024. Highlights 🚗 The panel discusses the progress and ongoing evolution of road sharing in San Francisco, noting the city's...

At Micromobility America 2023, policymakers and fire-safety experts discuss why li-ion batteries in ebikes and scooters are suddenly catching on fire and how cities can minimize the risk  - Panelists include Tristan Brown, Deputy Administrator of the Pipeline Hazardous Material Safety Administration (PHMSA), Jason Levine, the Executive Director of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and...

Fresh off Micromobility America, James Gross talks with Jimmy Standley, the Co-Founder and CEO of Solé Bicycles. Solé Bicycles was founded in 2009, with the initial concept being a class project to create affordable bicycles, specifically aiming for a price tag of $200-$300. They subsequently won an Alibaba business plan competition, and used the $25,000 grant won to create their first product. Th...

Meet Jason and Camilla Iftakhar of Swifty Scooters. Swifty Scooters is an innovative micromobility company that specilizes in foldable and portable scooters for adults. James Gross talks with Jason and Camila about winning the Startup Awards at Micromobility America 2023 and their brand new electric Scooter, the G500.  You can see their Startup Awards pitch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dR...

At Micromobility America, James Gross and Levi Conlow, CEO of Electric Bikes, discuss the company's rapid growth to become the #1 ebike seller in the US. He also shared insights into the ebike market, Lectric's DTC strategy, plans for new products, and the need for industry regulation while also being concern with some of the current legislation being pushed. 🚲 Lectric sells over 150,000 electric...

Ryvid's CEO, Dong Tran, discusses the advancements and goals of the company in building electric motorcycles at their California HQ. He emphasizes local manufacturing, funding from the state of California, and innovative design techniques that allow for easier production and assembly. Tran also highlights the importance of shifting public perception about two-wheel transportation and the potential...