Fredrik Hjelm, CEO and co-founder of Voi, recently spearheaded the Liverpool Slush’D startup conference, emphasising the necessity of streamlined collaboration to foster innovation in urban environments.
Fredrik Hjelm, the visionary behind Voi, an electric scooter and bike company launched in Sweden in 2018, addressed the Slush’D conference on the importance of community and streamlined processes in nurturing startup ecosystems.
Hjelm highlighted that entrepreneurship can often be a solitary journey; hence, fostering a supportive community, especially through events like Slush’D, is crucial. He elaborates, ‘Being an entrepreneur and the founder is often very lonely. You found something, against all odds. You’re on your own, though perhaps a small team. Everyone says you will fail and likely you will fail. But you still try because the likelihood of succeeding is at least higher than zero and you think it is worth it.’
In his view, collaboration among investors, entrepreneurs, and engineers is essential for building robust ecosystems. He stressed the importance of capital availability, noting that while it is often said capital is concentrated in London, it flows across the country and even internationally. ‘If you start something in Liverpool or Gothenburg in Sweden or a smaller city, and build something that people want, and build a great user experience with a good price – then there will be capital,’ he asserts.
Reflecting on Voi’s early days, Hjelm recounted how the team initially ‘hacked’ existing consumer e-scooters to create their first vehicles. This approach underlined his belief that speed often trumps perfection, a philosophy he has also applied to his investments in numerous startups.
Addressing Voi’s funding rounds, Hjelm emphasised the importance of self-confidence among entrepreneurs. He posits that securing investment is overwhelmingly about perception and less about rigid data metrics. He observes, ‘Winning investment is 10% about data metrics – and 90% about perception, strength, and fear of missing out.’
Hjelm also commented on the regulatory landscape, urging the UK government to clarify legislation surrounding e-scooters and e-bikes. He argues that local authorities should have the autonomy to implement their schemes without excessive centralised control.
During the conference, Hjelm tackled an incident involving Swedish singer Fröken Snusk, who referenced riding a Voi drunk in a popular song. Voi balanced the need to maintain their brand’s serious stance on safety while leveraging the publicity to reiterate important safety messages.
Fundamentally, Hjelm believes that urban innovation hinges on reducing administrative obstacles and fostering open, collaborative communities. He concluded with a strong call to action: ‘What the government needs to do in the UK is set the legislative framework for e-scooters and e-bikes to make it clear, both for rental schemes and for councils and regions, what they can do and what they cannot do. And then what they also need to do is legalise private e-scooters because private e-scooters today are illegal in the UK at the same time as more than 1 million private e-scooters have been sold and are used in the UK. So… just fix it.’
Fredrik Hjelm’s address at Liverpool Slush’D underscored the need for community, speed over perfection, and clear legislative frameworks to drive urban innovation and support emerging technologies.