Eel Rides

🌍🚗 Meet the Founders of Eel Rides – Sustainable Travel, Done Right (and with a Laugh) 🚗🌍 First things first – yes, Meet the Fockers is one of my favourite movies, and yes, we may have had way too much fun editing ourselves onto the cover! 😂 Apologies for the questionable Photoshop skills – they’re part of our charm. But here’s why we’re here to make a difference. 🚀 Why Eel Rides? 🌱 I could say an angel appeared and said, “Save the planet, my sons!” with a beam of light shining down – but alright, maybe not. 😇 The truth? Tatenda and I ran our own car rental company, and after a while, it was impossible not to notice the HUGE gap in the market. Where was the 🌟 premium, eco-friendly service 🌟 with 🌍 professional drivers who make you feel like a VIP instead of just another passenger? Enter Eel Rides. We saw the need, rolled up our sleeves, and here we are, bringing affordable, sustainable travel that’s as comfortable as it is kind to the planet. 🌿💚 Our goal? To make eco-friendly travel accessible, one smooth ride at a time. 🌍✨ Meet the Founders 👨💻👨💼 (Or, the Guys Figuring It Out as They Go) Tatenda Samunderu, CTO 🛡️: The cybersecurity guru and tech whiz behind the scenes, making sure our systems are as secure as Fort Knox. Yes, he might joke about hacking your phone – but don’t worry, all that talent is 100% focused on Eel Rides. 😂 When he’s not building and securing our tech, he’s glued to Formula 1 🏎️, analysing races like he’s part of the pit crew. Wellington, CEO 💡: That’s me – law graduate, problem-solver by nature, and honestly… half the time, I have no idea what I’m doing, but somehow, it’s working brilliantly! So maybe I do know what I’m doing? Let’s go with that! 😆 Between keeping us compliant and making the next big decision, you’ll find me jamming to music 🎶 or watching football ⚽ to unwind. Fun Facts & Real Talk 💸 Broke as Hell: Bootstrapping a startup isn’t for the faint-hearted. We’re broke, and it’s tough, but we’re making it work one “borrowed coffee” at a time. 💸💪 Fitness Goals in Progress: We’ll admit it – startup life has packed on a few extra pounds. But don’t worry, we’re working on it (at least, that’s the plan!). 🏃♂️💪 So here we are – two underdogs 🐶 on a mission to make sustainable, premium travel the future. Can we go head-to-head with the big players? Only time will tell. Thanks for joining us on this wild ride. 🌍✨ #MeetTheFounders #EelRides #SustainableTravel #EndToEndSustainableTravel #EcoFriendlyTransport #StartupLife #Bootstrapping #BorrowedCoffee

Is London Claiming the Tech Crown? The Eligent Club’s recent event, “How to Build a Tech Startup,” has left me pondering this very question. The gathering was a beacon, illuminating the path for startups and mentors alike, showcasing the vibrant potential of London’s tech scene. I’m grateful to have been part of such an enlightening experience, hosted by the visionary Slava Baranovskiy. A heartfelt thank you to the phenomenal speakers who shared their wisdom, including Marco Poliafico, MBA, Yannis Iliopoulos, Toofan Aslan, Matt Black, Fernando Cabral, Gayatri Panda (CIPD Level 7 Queen Mary University, London), Keith Blackshire and 🌈 Anne-Claire Lo Bianco, among others. The event was a treasure trove for startups and entrepreneurs, brimming with rich discussions on perfecting pitches, navigating the intricacies of fundraising, and embracing the lean startup methodology. A special shoutout to Marco Poliafico, MBA, whose foresight and understanding of Eel Rides’ mission have been instrumental from our inception. As Eel Rides enters an exciting new chapter, we’re ever-thankful for his invaluable insights. Conversations with Dominik Vesely revealed the impressive strides being made by CLOSWAP, while interactions with Camil Abou Farhat, Elias Abou Farhat, & Marc Medlej from JESR were equally inspiring. And of course, meeting the sustainability superhero Stacy H was a highlight not to be missed. London’s startup ecosystem is thriving, and events like these are the catalysts for innovation and growth. Here’s to building a future where technology and sustainability ride together. #LondonTech #StartupGrowth #Innovation #EelRides #EligentClub #SustainableFuture

Heyy hemp users? 😎🍃 What do you use hemp for? – Did you know it's countless purposes extend far beyond paper and textiles? 🌿 Last week I had a meeting with a sustainable hero- Suneet Shivaprasad, the co-founder of Rare Earth Global, that left me truly inspired! Their commitment to sustainability and innovative use of hemp is paving the way for a greener future, one that aligns with Eel Rides' vision. 🌍 At Rare Earth, they specialise in harnessing the power of hemp for eco-friendly solutions like using hemp for developing biodegradable plastics and exploring the potential of hemp in biofuel production. This VERY versatile plant 👀 allows for a wide range of functions, ones that also contribute to more sustainable practices across various industries. 💪 It goes without saying that I’m always eager to connect with other like-minded businesses and organisations and I’m very grateful for the positive feedback and insight on our sustainable approach. Suneet was impressed about Eel Rides’ objectives and goals, whilst appreciative of our initiative! Knowing we are on the right track is empowering, and I'm excited about the direction we are headed! 🚀 So, did you know about this green game-changer? With its countless uses, what's your top pick for using hemp? 🍃🦄 #hemp #innovation #EelRides #sustainability #gogreen #startupbusiness

🎥 Welcome to watch our ELIGENT TV session called 'Social value creation for a tech startup'. 🌍 We discussed about definition of social value, challenges of finding a balance between social value creation and commercial outcomes and tried to expand the view on how tech founders should bring social value creation into their products and business models. Thanks to our panelists Liliana Caimacan Marco Poliafico, MBA Matt Black Akanksha Anand for your contributions. 🎙️ Thanks to Eligent Club Accelerator Participants - Helix.Earth startup team (Sowmy VJ, Hennadii Bilyi) and Eel Rides (Wellington Chiwara) for your presentations. 📈 Watch full episode:

Hey guys! As you know publicity and advertising are important so here are some websites and magazines that might interest you! I thought I could share some of these absolute goldmines that I stumbled upon when embarking on this startup adventure and starting Eel Rides. 💡🤩       Startup Grind– A community that just gets it! Real stories, real struggles, and amazing insights! 💻 There's Startups Magazine- A window to global trends and tales. Because let's face it, the startup language is universal. 🙌 Start Your Business Magazine – There you can find practical tips and strategies. It’s basically a roadmap for your startup journey. 🗞️ But wait, there's more! StartupObserver - Updates on emerging trends in the startup panorama. 🔮 For my fellow European innovators, EU-Startups Magazine- Explores the European startup scene. 🌟 And a special mention to Black Business Magazine! - Focus on empowering Black entrepreneurs' stories and innovative business strategies. 💪🏾 These aren't just helpful resources; they're like reliable guides through the ups and downs of startups. And just like these, there are maaaaany more! As they say knowledge is power and you can never have too much of it (knowledge you guys👀). 🎉 📰 Sooo, fellow founders, have any of these impacted you journey? How so? Also, do you know any others? Drop your stories and insights in the comments! 🌐✨ #startupjourney #entrepreneurship #business #startups #EelRides #publicity #advertising #magazine #london

Beyond the office walls: Embracing the hybrid spirit 💼✨ You know what? I miss hearing some crazy jokes, stupid ideas AND amazing ones too! I miss brainstorming at the office and goofy, beautiful team faces!💡 Since the beginning of Eel Rides, we have been working from home. Our office, being a place to wherever Wi-Fi connects. Alongside our co-founder Tatenda Samunderu, this has provided us with finding the best talents across the world and building our amazing team with people in almost every continent. From India to Nigeria, and from Poland and Portugal to the UAE, our workspace transcends borders all the way to the U.K.! 🌍🏡 Yet, even with our global reach and flexibility, there is no denying that there is something special about a common workspace with your co-workers because working alone isn’t always ideal (let’s be honest, who wants to stay at home 24h/7 looking at their computer?). 🌐💼 The hybrid model breaks down geographical barriers and is full of benefits such as: ·       Reduced commuting costs and time. ·       More autonomy  ·       Better work-life balance ·       Increased productivity ·       Flexible schedule This is why we are looking into setting up a hybrid work situation here at Eel Rides in London. We want to provide our team with a better life-work harmony.  A place where we can have coffee, where we can brainstorm ideas together, chat and form alliances. Because, if ‘The Office’ has taught us something is that sometimes, going to work with others is fun and cultivates a positive and sustainable work culture! 🇬🇧✨ But hey, I want to hear from YOU. Question for start-up founders: what do you guys prefer? Are you all for fully remote, stick to the office or hybrid? 🏢👩💻 #hybridwork #officelife #workfromhome #team #havefun #startup #eelrides

Sustainable Hidden Gems💎 in London. Hey! Ready to turn those Monday blues into a Monday mood boost? Who said that Mondays have to be dreadful? I mean it’s no Saturday I know…no brunch with bottomless mimosas, just bottomless emails. But we got this, one coffee at a time! ☕️🚀 Speaking of which, let me share a few hidden gems in London that’ll make your week start with a delicious twist. 🌈💫 Ever explored Neal's Yard? Picture this: vibrant colors, creative vibes, and the aroma of one of the bestdoughnuts in London from St John Restaurant Co Ltd Bakery. Because, hey, Mondays are made for treating yourself, right? 🍩 Brunch, anyone? Elevate your brunch experience at Petersham Nurseries Café, where not only your taste buds are treated but also the planet. With a Michelin Green Star gem, it's a place where sustainability meets culinary excellence. A little pick-me-up for your palate and the planet! 🌟🌿 And for the coffee lovers, Caravan Restaurants has a sweet deal – bring your cup, save some pennies. Your coffee, your way, and a little extra in your pocket.☕💰 Now that you have your coffee, why not drink it in Saint Dunstan-in-the-East is an overlooked green spot nestled in the midst of the city's hustle. Ancient ruins turned serene escape. It's like stepping into a time capsule where history meets tranquility. 🌱🍔 Hey, still not sold on the ‘Brekkie’? Then head to Pop Brixton. From innovative startups to delicious bites. Elevate your Monday lunch game. Did you know that every day in the U.K, around 7 million disposable coffee cups are used? that's around 2.5 billion a year! And less than 0.25% can be recycled.🤯 What's your go-to Monday ritual or favorite hidden spot in the city? Share it down below! 💪🚗 #sustainability #coffeemonday #startup #hiddengem #London #founders #eelrides

What to do on the last weekend of January? ❄️ Stay at home and relax as an option. 🛋️ Or join breakfast with tech entrepreneurs at Eligent Club to set ambitious startup goals for 2024 and prepare to take off! 🚀 Today, we had an inspiring and equally productive session discussing current startup challenges and ways to solve them! ☄️✅ By tradition, a 2-hour breakfast became a 5-hour talk 😄 with impactful takeaways to our attendees. 💡 Many thanks for coming Shamsa Rana Wellington Chiwara Ria Chakrabarti Sergei Firsov Matt Black Sowmy VJ Hennadii Bilyi Dmytro Rohov Tobe Ofili 🤝 Wish to make your 2024 productive? Apply to join our next breakfast with tech entrepreneurs: https://lnkd.in/ebnUgyHu #eligentclub #tech #digitaltech #entrepreneurs #techstartup