The Micromobility Podcast

What is Mobility as a Service, and can it really replace the convenience of owning a car?On this episode of the Micromobility Podcast, hosted by Prabin Joel Jones, CEO of Micromobility Industries, Sampo Hietanen, widely credited with coining the term Mobility as a Service (MaaS), takes us through nearly two decades of thinking, building, experimenting and learning about the future of mobility.From developing the original MaaS concept in 2006 to founding MaaS Global and launching Whim, Hietanen has seen both the promise and challenges of creating a seamless alternative to car ownership.In this conversation, he shares what MaaS was originally designed to solve, why the car is the real competitor, and what building Whim taught him about convenience, subscriptions and user experience.The conversation also explores how AI could change the way people interact with mobility, moving us beyond apps and toward services that simply understand where we need to go and how we prefer to get there.Today, through his work at Swavia, Hietanen is also exploring another evolution of the idea — Mobility as a Feature, where mobility becomes part of products and services such as real estate and retail rather than a standalone product.In this episodeWhy the real competitor to MaaS is car ownershipHow the original MaaS concept started in 2006What Mobility as a Service actually meansThe lessons from building WhimWhy subscriptions could unlock the potential of MaaSWhy convenience matters more than mobility ideologyHow AI agents could transform the mobility experienceWhy mobility could become a feature of real estate and other productsWhat the future of car ownership could look like

In this episode of the Micromobility Podcast, Prabin Joel Jones sits down with Tomi Viiala, former CEO of Stromer, to talk about building one of the most distinctive premium e-bike brands in the world and his next, far more ambitious project: Viiala.Tomi spent more than a decade at Stromer, helping take the Swiss speed-pedelec company from startup to an international brand operating across 25 countries. During that journey, Stromer pushed e-bike pricing from around €5,000 into the €10,000+ range, pioneered connected bikes, and built an unusually loyal community around the riding experience rather than individual components.We discuss why Stromer succeeded in creating a premium category, why Belgium became one of the world's strongest markets for speed pedelecs, why Germany has struggled to achieve the same adoption, and what Tomi learned about brand, pricing, distribution, product quality and protecting resale value.Then we get into what comes next.Together with former Audemars Piguet CEO François-Henry Bennahmias, Tomi is building Viiala, a new company developing what it calls a hyperbike.The first bike is expected to start at around €30,000, with a new motor system, battery technology, advanced electronics, V2X connectivity, integrated safety systems and a connected helmet ecosystem. Rather than designing a bike to hit a predetermined price point, the team is taking the opposite approach: engineer the system they want first and determine the price afterwards.Viiala also plans to source around 90% of its components from Europe, manufacture its carbon frames in Slovakia, assemble the bikes in Europe and initially produce only around 300–500 units of its first hyperbike.We talk about:• How Stromer created a cult following around speed pedelecs• Why getting customers on a test ride was more important than talking about price• Building a brand instead of selling Shimano, Bosch or other component specifications• Why Stromer avoided model years and heavy discounting• How premium pricing helped protect second-hand values• Why Belgium became such a successful speed-pedelec market• The regulatory barriers holding speed pedelecs back in Germany• Tomi's biggest lessons from more than a decade at Stromer• Why Viiala is building the brand before revealing the bike• The thinking behind a €30,000 hyperbike• Developing a proprietary motor, battery and technology platform• Bringing automotive-style safety technology to two wheels• Why Viiala wants to manufacture and assemble in Europe• Whether ultra-luxury bicycles can become a category like luxury cars and watches• Viiala's plans for more accessible commuter and urban models• The roadmap toward the first customer deliveries

At Micromobility Europe 2026, Philippe Crist is joined by Fredrik Hjelm, CEO of Voi Technology, and Maxim Romain, CEO of Dott, for a discussion on how Europe's leading operators are navigating the industry's next chapter.After years of rapid growth, market consolidation, and changing investor sentiment, both companies are now profitable and focused on long-term growth.The discussion covers:• How Voi and Dott reached profitability• Why cities are offering longer-term licences• The evolution from scooters to multimodal fleets• Better infrastructure and parking• Shared micromobility as part of public transport• Why subscriptions and better hardware are driving growth• Lime's IPO and renewed investor confidence• The future of European shared mobilitySpeakersMaxim Romain – Co-Founder & CEO, DottFredrik Hjelm – Co-Founder & CEO, Voi TechnologyModeratorPhilippe Crist - Mobility Expert📍 Recorded live at Micromobility Europe 2026 in Berlin.

Long before dockless bikes and scooters became a global industry, Ryan Rzepecki was building connected bicycles.In this episode of the Micromobility Podcast, Ryan tells the remarkable story of Social Bicycles, its transformation into JUMP Bikes, and the decade-long journey that ultimately led to its acquisition by Uber.Ryan explains how his team built connected bikes before IoT technology became mainstream, survived for years with less than six months of runway, and created an e-bike experience that many still consider the gold standard for shared micromobility.We discuss:• How an urban planner without a hardware or software background started JUMP• Building connected bikes before smartphones and IoT became mainstream• Bootstrapping the company to $10 million in revenue• Why 2017 was the hardest year of Ryan’s professional life• The rebrand from Social Bicycles to JUMP• How the team perfected JUMP’s iconic red bike and natural motor assistance• How the Stripe founders discovered JUMP and helped with fundraising• Why Uber acquired the company• What changed when JUMP went from a capital-constrained startup to operating inside Uber• How JUMP’s technology and industrial design shaped Lime’s current bike fleet• Why nobody has managed to build a clearly better shared e-bike• The biggest mistakes founders make when building hardware startups• Why hardware companies need recurring software or service revenue• Ryan’s new augmented-reality company, MeshMap, and its first immersive experience in New York CityRyan also shares his view on the future of micromobility, autonomous vehicles, battery swapping, local operations and why micromobility companies could eventually become broader transportation operators.This is the story of one of the most influential companies in modern shared mobility and the founder whose work can still be seen on the streets of cities around the world.Subscribe to the Micromobility Podcast for more conversations with the founders and leaders shaping the future of transportation.

Why does cycling continue to lead the micromobility revolution?At Micromobility Europe 2026 in Berlin, Henk Swarttouw, President of the European Cyclists' Federation (ECF), joins Karen Vancluysen, Secretary General of POLIS, to discuss why cycling remains the backbone of sustainable urban mobility. They explore how cities should rethink street space, the rise of autonomous vehicles, the impact of e-bikes, integrating cycling with public transport, the future of bike infrastructure, and the European policies shaping active mobility.Topics covered:Why cycling is still at the centre of micromobilityReclaiming street space from carsAutonomous vehicles and urban mobilityE-bikes and the next wave of cycling growthShared bikes vs. e-scootersBike lanes, cargo bikes and infrastructure challengesCycling and public transport integrationSupercycle highways and commuter cyclingEuroVelo and cycling tourismEuropean cycling policy and fundingSafe routes to school and getting more children on bikesSpeakersHenk Swarttouw – President, European Cyclists' Federation (ECF)Karen Vancluysen – Secretary General, Polis📍 Recorded live at Micromobility Europe 2026 in Berlin.🌐 https://micromobility.io

What does it take to build one of Europe's largest bike-sharing operators over 22 years?At Micromobility Europe 2026 in Berlin, Johan Høgåsen-Hallesby sits down with Sebastian Popp to explore the evolution of bike sharing—from manually unlocking bikes via a hotline in 2004 to operating integrated mobility networks across more than 400 cities today.Sebastian shares the story of Nextbike's early years, surviving on limited resources, winning city tenders across Europe, securing its first investment after a decade of bootstrapping, and navigating its acquisition by Tier before becoming independent again.The conversation also examines how bike sharing is evolving, the growing convergence of B2G and B2C mobility models, public transport integration, regional mobility networks, fleet customization, European manufacturing, and why subsidized bike-sharing systems remain critical for cities looking to reduce car dependency.Topics covered:• The founding story of Nextbike and Europe's early bike-sharing market• Scaling to tens of thousands of bikes through city tenders• Lessons from the Tier acquisition• How Nextbike transformed into a rider-focused organization• Public transport integration and regional mobility networks• The future of bike sharing, micromobility, and city partnerships• Why cities should continue investing in shared mobility infrastructureSpeakers:• Sebastian Popp, CEO, Nextbike• Johan Høgåsen-Hallesby, Co-founding Partner, Beta MobilityRecorded live at Micromobility Europe 2026 in Berlin.Subscribe for more conversations with the leaders shaping the future of urban mobility.

Patrick Bion, Co-Founder and CEO of Minimal, joins Prabin Joel Jones on the Micromobility Podcast to talk about the future of last-mile delivery, right-sized vehicles, and why cities need a new generation of commercial vehicles.Patrick has spent more than a decade building electric vehicles, starting at Tesla in the early days of Model S, Model X and Model 3, before moving to Arrival, where he worked on commercial EVs for major customers including Amazon and UPS.Now, with Minimal, he is taking a different approach: smaller, smarter, more efficient vehicles designed specifically for dense urban logistics.In this conversation, Patrick explains why simply electrifying vans is not enough, how Minimal’s Pedal Four vehicle can replace van routes in dense city centres, and why the company is building a full stack of right-sized delivery vehicles, from pedal-assist cargo vehicles to microvans and eventually autonomous delivery platforms.They also discuss Minimal’s microfactory strategy, Fleet OS software platform, battery and charging model, regulation around cargo vehicles in bike lanes, the economics of parcel delivery, and why the future of urban logistics may depend on moving more with less.

Brussels has announced plans to ban shared e-scooters from January 2027, sending shockwaves through the micromobility industry.In this episode of the Micromobility Podcast, Prabin Joel Jones sits down with Dott Co-Founder and CEO Maxim Romain for a candid, in-person conversation at Dott's headquarters in Amsterdam.Maxim shares his reaction to the Brussels decision, why he believes the reasons given by the city do not reflect the reality of shared micromobility today, and what this could mean for operators, cities, and riders across Europe.The conversation also explores the broader state of the industry, including Dott's journey from startup to one of the world's largest micromobility operators, the path to profitability following the Tier-Dott merger, Lime's upcoming IPO, industry consolidation, and the future of shared transportation.Topics covered:• Brussels' shared e-scooter ban• Safety, parking and crime concerns surrounding scooters• Why cities continue to embrace micromobility• Dott's path to profitability• The Tier-Dott merger• Lime's IPO and industry valuations• Consolidation in shared mobility• The future of e-bikes, e-scooters and new vehicle types• Building resilient companies during difficult times• Founder mindset, purpose and long-term thinkingMaxim is one of the few founders still leading a major micromobility company after more than eight years in the industry. This conversation offers a unique perspective on where shared mobility has been and where it is heading next.🎙 Guest: Maxim Romain, Co-Founder & CEO, Dott🎙 Host: Prabin Joel Jones, CEO, Micromobility Industries

Shared micromobility is no longer just a startup experiment. It’s becoming real urban infrastructure.In this episode of the Micromobility Podcast, Prabin Joel Jones sits down with Tobias Balchen, CEO of Ryde, one of the most profitable shared micromobility operators in Europe.Ryde grew revenue from $28.4M in 2023 to $75.5M in 2025 while maintaining industry-leading profitability. Tobias breaks down how Ryde achieved this while much of the industry struggled with losses, restructuring and funding challenges.We also dive deep into the future of the micromobility industry, Lime’s IPO, e-bikes, public transit integration, infrastructure, consolidation and what comes next for the sector.What we covered:- How Ryde became one of the most profitable operators in micromobility- Why customer experience is the foundation of profitability- Why Oslo’s shared scooter network is approaching public transit scale- The future of shared e-bikes and scooters- Why bikes are becoming a major growth driver- Lime’s S-1 filing and what it means for the industry- Why valuations are still low despite explosive ridership growth- The shift from VC funding to debt and bond markets- Why cycling infrastructure directly impacts ridership- Whether micromobility is becoming urban infrastructure- The future of consolidation in the industry- Why Europe remains the biggest opportunity for operators- New mobility formats and what comes after scooters and bikes- Advice for startups building in micromobility

In this episode of the Micromobility Podcast, Prabin Joel Jones speaks with Caroline Samponaro, VP of External Affairs at Lyft Urban Solutions, about building and scaling some of the most successful public bike share programs in the world, and why she believes the station-based model is the future of urban micromobility.Caroline shares her journey from bicycle activist and community organiser in New York City, through a brief stint at dockless pioneer Ofo, to helping Lyft build its infrastructure-first approach to bike share. She breaks down what makes programs like Citi Bike, Divvy, and Capital Bikeshare work, why free-floating was a distraction, and what the next decade of public micromobility looks like.Topics covered:• From anthropology student to bike advocate: Caroline's path into micromobility• What Lyft Urban Solutions actually is and the scale it operates at• Why Lyft doubled down on station-based bike share while Uber walked away• The Citi Bike story: 36k bikes, 47m  trips, and a single-day record of 206k rides• Why free-floating costs 26% more per ride than station-based over a contract lifecycle• The new Pillar station: independent bollards, latch docking, and in-dock charging• How Chicago's Divvy program combines e-bikes, e-scooters, and hybrid parking• What makes a bike share city: network density, political will, and long-term thinking• Protected bike lanes and why infrastructure and tools must go together• Advice for city officials designing or procuring a micro-mobility program

In this episode of the Micromobility Podcast, Prabin Joel Jones speaks with Wim Ouboter, Founder & CEO of Micro Mobility Systems and the inventor of the modern kick scooter, about building one of the most iconic micro vehicles in history and then betting everything on the microcar.Wim shares the story behind the Micro scooter's creation, how it scaled to 80,000 units a day, and what happened when the market collapsed under a wave of copies. He then takes us through the journey of building the Microlino, the regulatory battles facing microcars today, and why he believes the pod car is the next major shift in urban mobility.Topics covered:• The bratwurst run that inspired the micro scooter• Scaling to 80,000 units a day and the collapse that followed• Why Wim pivoted from scooters to microcars• The story behind the Microlino and the BMW Isetta• L6 vs L7 and the regulatory challenges facing microcars• The lawsuit against the Swiss government over CO2 credits• Manufacturing in Italy vs China and what changes next• Advice for founders building hardware in mobility today

In this episode of the Micromobility Podcast, Prabin Joel Jones speaks with Kevin Talbot, Managing Partner at Relay Ventures and one of the earliest investors in Bird, about the rise, challenges, and future of shared micromobility.Kevin shares the inside story behind Relay Ventures’ investment in Bird, the creation of Bird Canada, and how the franchisee eventually took over the global company. The conversation explores what Bird got right, where the industry struggled, and why consolidation is far from over.They also discuss profitability, regulation, swappable batteries, the future of microcars, and why Kevin believes micromobility will eventually become a two-player global market.Topics covered:• How Relay Ventures invested in Bird• The story behind Bird Canada• What Bird got right and wrong• Why swappable batteries matter• Regulation and city partnerships• Profitability challenges in micromobility• The future of industry consolidation• Why microcars could transform urban mobility• Advice for founders building in mobility today