Ride AI

By Oliver Bruce and Horace DediuBusiness Technology Investing

Ride AI episodes

December 22, 2023 Bird Goes Bankrupt. What Company Will Blink Next?
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, considering the broader implications for the industry. They then turn their attention to how you could build a shared micromobility company today and the opportunities that are now present as capital and some of the existing industry heads for the exit.

1 hr 6 min
December 20, 2023 The Story of Upway and Their Plan to Help You Sell or Buy a Used Electric Bike
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 at Uber Eats, bringing their expertise in tech-driven business models to the e-bike industry.
The company is notable for refurbishing and certifying a vast array of electric bikes, offering customers a wide selection of over 400 brands. As of March 2023, Upway had refurbished and certified more than 20,000 electric bikes, showcasing its commitment to providing quality and sustainable transportation options.
The company has successfully expanded its services beyond France, with availability in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States. This expansion is a testament to the growing demand for sustainable and affordable mobility solutions. Upway's approach to e-bike sales centers around a seamless ordering and delivery process, ensuring that the bikes and their batteries are of high quality and safe for use. This business model has attracted notable investors like Sequoia Capital, Global Founders Capital, Exor Seeds, and Origins, contributing to Upway's impressive total funding of $60.6 million.
Highlights
🚲 Upway, a company specializing in selling refurbished electric bikes, has successfully raised over $30 million in Series B funding.
🌍 Founded in 2021 and based in Paris, Upway has expanded to Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States.
🔄 They have refurbished over 20,000 electric bikes from more than 400 brands, offering up to 35% discount compared to new bikes.
🛠️ Upway's business model focuses on rebuilding trust in the used ebike market by refurbishing bikes to a high standard and offering a one-year warranty.
📈 Despite initial skepticism, the market demand for used ebikes has been strong, with Upway receiving high customer satisfaction ratings.
🤝 Upway collaborates with over 1500 retailers and ebike dealers, using trading software for customer trade-ins and managing returns for D2C manufacturers.
📊 The business mix varies by region, with a significant portion of sourcing in Europe coming from dealers, while in the US, direct consumer purchases and manufacturer returns play a larger role.
56 min
December 14, 2023 Melvin Lian of Voro Motors discusses moving to Los Angeles after Singapore shut down his business
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 scooters, as well as its own EMOVE line of vehicles.
Highlights
- 🛴 Melvin Lim, founder and CEO of Voro Motors, explained how the firm began in Singapore due to the city's need for convenient and portable e-scooters.
- ⚖️ He explained the various laws in Singapore that gradually constrained scooter usage, leading to an unexpected overnight ban on scooters in 2019.
- 🖊️ Following this, Melvin made the decision to move operations to Los Angeles where he believed the desire for e-scooter use was increasing.
- 🚀 In L.A. they primarily sold their own models, the Emove Cruiser and the Emove Touring, however consumer demand led to them also distributing dula motor scooters by other brands like Kaboo and Dualtron.
- 🌍 Despite the challenges from strict regulations and sudden changes in operating environments, Voro Motors has successfully adapted and grown, serving different customer bases with varied products.
37 min
December 06, 2023 Sharing the Road with Robots w/ Ed Niedermeyer and Waymo
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 move towards being more cyclist-friendly.
👥 The guests all share their individual experiences as cyclists around San Francisco, highlighting the importance of infrastructure and social norms for cyclist safety.
🌆 Each panelist emphasizes the variability of driving conditions between different cities, such as the contrast between Phoenix's car-centric suburbs and San Francisco's diverse road users.
💻 Team members from Waymo explain their roles in automating driving tasks that we often do subconsciously, such as perceiving our surroundings and planning our route.- 🤖 Edward Niedermeyer notes that robots are not entitled to anything. Instead, autonomous vehicles must respect human needs and find their space in society.
🚙 The discussion addresses the shift from Waymo operating primarily in Phoenix to its activities in San Francisco, while noting their strong track record so far.
🚴‍♂️ The panelists stress the need for autonomous vehicles to have hyper-awareness of their surroundings, particularly in relation to vulnerable road users like cyclists and pedestrians.
38 min
November 21, 2023 FDNY, CPSC, USDOT: Electric Bike/Scooter Batteries, Fires, Deliveries and Safety: What Are the Real Issues?
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 Laura Kavanagh, the FDNY Fire Commissioner.
- The discussion focuses on the challenges and safety concerns related to lithium-ion batteries in micromobility vehicles, particularly in densely populated areas like New York City.
- Commissioner Kavanagh highlights the unique challenges faced by the FDNY in a delivery-intensive city like New York, including issues with battery charging and swapping
- Deputy Administrator Brown emphasizes that the problem extends beyond micromobility and is related to the misuse of batteries in general.
- The discussion also touches on the underground economy surrounding battery charging, DIY conversion kits and the need for safety regulations and certifications.
- The panelists express the importance of public safety and innovation coexisting and working towards safe solutions.
47 min
November 17, 2023 Solé Bicycles from College Fixie in the Dorm Room to their New Electric Lineup
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. They sold their products directly to customers, offering a high-quality product at a competitive price. They used the Shopify platform early on, and utilized digital marketing strategies on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram to grow their business. The brand focuses on being relevant culturally, collaborating with various DJs and other artists for special products and promotions.
Highlights
🎓 The idea for Solé Bicycles began as a college business plan project to create affordable fixed-gear bikes.
💡 Winning a business plan competition sponsored by Alibaba, they received a $25,000 grant to start their business.
🌍 Initial struggles included direct dealings with manufacturers in China and rapidly scaling the business.
📈 The company's focus on vibrant, artistic designs helped them break into the market and attract customers.
🚲 Solé Bicycles diversified into direct-to-consumer sales, online marketing, and various collaborations.
💻 Early adoption of Shopify and leveraging social media platforms like Instagram played a key role in their growth.
🛠️ Future plans include expanding into electric bikes while maintaining their core in acoustic bikes.
38 min
November 07, 2023 ⚡️Swifty Scooters: Micromobility America Startup Award Winners and their newest scooter, the G500
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=dRKQrqI04mM
Highlights of the Talk
🔋 Swifty Scooters are powered by a LFP (lithium ferrophosphate) battery that can cover a range of 25km and assure the rider that these batteries won't catch fire in or around their home or work.
🏙️ These scooters are ideal for adults commuting in urban areas.
🛴 Convenient features such as adjustable handlebars, low center of gravity and a kickstand enhance maneuverability and add ons for paneers and other storage capabilities.
💦 Mudguards are added to keep the ride clean.
🎒 Thanks to their foldable design, these scooters are portable and easy to store.
57 min
November 03, 2023 Lectric and Levi Conlow: The Largest Electric Bike Company in the USA
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 vehicles annually, that is more than any US vehicle company besides Tesla
📈 Despite industry downturn, Lectric still seeing double digit growth
⚙️ Focused on high quality, low cost bikes rather than maximizing margins
🛒 Committed to DTC as it provides valuable customer feedback
🆕 Excited about upcoming partnerships and new wider wheelbase models
🤝 Sees need for more industry regulation to protect consumers
🫂 With influence comes responsibility - brands can drive positive change
24 min
October 26, 2023 Meet Ryvid's CEO, Dong Tran and their new electric motorcycle being built out of their California HQ
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 benefits of electric bikes in urban commuting.
Highlights
📍 Ryvid is currently based in California, having moved into a new R&D facility in Orange County. They've also secured bigger facilities for ramped-up production and retail in Hawaiian Gardens.
💰 Ryvid secured a $20 million grant from the state of California, emphasizing local manufacturing and job creation.
🛠 Dong shares a unique folding metal technique for constructing their motorcycles, which simplifies the assembly process and reduces labor requirements.
🌍 While many companies are looking to offshore manufacturing, Ryvid and similar companies are reshoring, emphasizing the importance of local production and job creation in the US.
🚲 The "Anthem" motorcycle's design aims to bridge the gap between traditional motorcycles and electric bikes. The goal is to simplify operation, eliminating barriers like manual shifting.
🏙 The ideal use case for the "Anthem" is urban commuting, even though it's built to keep up with highway traffic speeds when necessary. The focus is on affordable EV transportation for shorter, urban commutes.
🏍️ The company designed its product to handle speeds of 45-75 mph safely, ensuring consumer protection.
🚘 Motorcycles can be a solution to modern infrastructure challenges, especially in congested areas like Southern California.
⚡ The trend with electric vehicles is moving towards smaller, more efficient designs, with some motorcycles achieving an efficiency of about 60 watt per mile.
🏙️ The company's motorcycle is designed to fit both urban and higher-speed road environments.
🔧 The challenge with modified e-bikes is they aren't built to handle higher speeds, leading to breakdowns and safety concerns.
📜 Licensing requirements and insurance concerns are barriers to widespread adoption, but education on safe riding practices is vital.
🚗 The integration of autonomous vehicles, like Teslas, brings both promise and uncertainty for two-wheel riders on the road.
🏍️ Dong addresses the concern of electric vehicles not recognizing motorcycles and the associated risks.
✈️ There's a comparison of trusting technology in planes vs cars, with computers communicating being potentially safer.
🛣️ Dong stresses on the importance of product design for specific road types – urban vs. highway.
⚡ The potential for geofencing capabilities in electric motorcycles to adapt to specific lane speed limits is also talked about.
🎤 James and Dong preview their participation at Micromobility America, including demos and discussions.
37 min
October 23, 2023 VMAX: Bringing the Swiss Scooter to the United States and Launching at Micromobility America
Offer and Giveaway
Enter for your chance to win a new VMAX VX2 at RideReview.com https://ridereview.com/giveaway/win-a-xmax-vx2-pro-electric-scooter-usd1-099-value
Video Summary
Dani Horwitz, CEO of VMAX, discusses the company's journey and mission to provide high-quality electric scooters with a focus on safety and reliability for the US market.
Highlights
🛴 Vmax Mobility, a Swiss-based company, is expanding to the US with high-quality, reliable scooters.
🏞️ The scooters are designed for a wide range of users, offering reliability and performance for everyday use.
🏆 Vmax prioritizes safety with UL certification and built-in safety features going after some of the bigger barriers to scooter adoption.
🚴‍♂️ The company aims to appeal to those considering e-bikes, providing a smaller and more eco-friendly alternative.
📊 Negative news and safety concerns are barriers to scooter adoption, which Vmax aims to address with its quality and safety measures.
📈 Studies suggest that scooters may be safer than e-bikes, challenging common safety perceptions.
26 min

About Ride AI

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The Ride AI podcast presents cutting-edge insights and meaningful conversations with the world’s top mobility technology leaders so that you learn hard-won lessons of investment and innovation.