Fastned builds fast charging stations across Europe

Season 07 of Startup Pass-port by Frontwalker continues with Episode 24 – Bart Lubbers, Co-founder of Fastned. Bart Lubbers, Co-founder of Fastned, describes building a European network of fast-charging stations in years when, as he puts it, there were hardly any customers. He explains how Fastned handled the "chicken and egg problem" - "no chargers, no cars, no cars, no chargers" - by winning long-term contracts on good highway locations through government and toll road tenders, then building stations "independent from the number of cars or customers." He also walks through how Fastned is funded: retail investors buying bonds, a stock exchange listing, and, since this year, a bank loan. He puts the network at around 420 stations at the time of filming, roughly half of them in the Netherlands, with a goal of 1,000 across Europe around 2030. On staying the course, Bart says he does not believe in pivoting: "Stick to your strategy, if you believe in it." He also explains why that is not enough on its own, because "if nobody follows you, it doesn't work." Plus what he watches inside a growing company: cash and culture. This new season brings conversations with founders, innovators, investors, and ecosystem leaders shaping the future of entrepreneurship, in partnership with Erasmus Enterprise and the NL Startup Competition. These conversations are powerful, inspiring, and game-changing, and we can't wait for you to hear them. Stay tuned! New episodes dropping soon!