The Micromobility Podcast

Micromobility Industries

Welcome to Micromobility, a podcast exploring the disruption that comes from new lightweight utility vehicles. Using the history of computing as a framework, we unpack what business models and impacts we’re likely to see in transport in cities.

  1. 5d ago

    Shared Micromobility CEO's Roundtable at Micromobility Europe 2026

    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 mobility SpeakersMaxim Romain – Co-Founder & CEO, DottFredrik Hjelm – Co-Founder & CEO, Voi Technology ModeratorPhilippe Crist - Mobility Expert📍 Recorded live at Micromobility Europe 2026 in Berlin.

    Shared Micromobility CEO's Roundtable at Micromobility Europe 2026

  2. Aug 3

    How JUMP Built the Gold Standard for Shared E-Bikes

    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 City Ryan 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.

    How JUMP Built the Gold Standard for Shared E-Bikes

  3. Jul 20

    Why Cycling Still Leads the Micromobility Revolution - Henk Swarttouw

    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 bikesSpeakers Henk Swarttouw – President, European Cyclists' Federation (ECF)Karen Vancluysen – Secretary General, Polis📍 Recorded live at Micromobility Europe 2026 in Berlin. 🌐 https://micromobility.io

    Why Cycling Still Leads the Micromobility Revolution - Henk Swarttouw

  4. Jul 6

    Fireside Chat with Sebastian Popp, CEO of Nextbike

    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 infrastructure Speakers:• Sebastian Popp, CEO, Nextbike• Johan Høgåsen-Hallesby, Co-founding Partner, Beta Mobility Recorded live at Micromobility Europe 2026 in Berlin. Subscribe for more conversations with the leaders shaping the future of urban mobility.

    Fireside Chat with Sebastian Popp, CEO of Nextbike

  5. Jun 22

    How Minimal Is Rethinking Urban Delivery - Patrick Bion, Co-Founder & CEO

    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.

    How Minimal Is Rethinking Urban Delivery - Patrick Bion, Co-Founder & CEO

  6. Jun 15

    Driven by Purpose: Maxim Romain, Co-founder & CEO of Dott

    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 thinking Maxim 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

    Driven by Purpose: Maxim Romain, Co-founder & CEO of Dott

  7. May 25

    The Business of Shared Micromobility Is Finally Working - Tobias W. Balchen, CEO of RYDE

    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

    The Business of Shared Micromobility Is Finally Working - Tobias W. Balchen, CEO of RYDE

  8. May 18

    How LYFT Built One of the World’s Largest Bikeshare Networks - Caroline Samponaro, VP Lyft

    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

    How LYFT Built One of the World’s Largest Bikeshare Networks - Caroline Samponaro, VP Lyft
See All (262)

Ratings & Reviews

About

Welcome to Micromobility, a podcast exploring the disruption that comes from new lightweight utility vehicles. Using the history of computing as a framework, we unpack what business models and impacts we’re likely to see in transport in cities.

Information

  • Creator
    Micromobility Industries
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    262
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Micromobility Industries
  • Show Website
    The Micromobility Podcast

You Might Also Like