Wow! What A Bunch of Amazing People!
Roger Atkins
LinkedIn TOP VOICE for EV 🏆, Event MC, 🎙️ The Electric & Eclectic Podcast Show Host, 🎬 Documentary Maker, Board Advisor, Harmonica Player, Business Consultant & Investor -Founder Electric Vehicles Outlook Ltd
Being part of a start-up is gruelling - often long hours, poor financial reward, and career instability. When they fail it's like losing a much loved family pet - you grieve.
I've been on a few of those journeys to date...
However, I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else other than in and around the great people I've worked with as part of such things. We share a vision and passion for a better way of living and sustaining our existence.
So I'd like to share some stuff from a few of the individuals I particularly admire.
Mate RIMAC - I've met Mate, and others in the team - and they are all truly inspirational people. They GET IT! From supercars to wheelchairs and from start-up scratch to a much admired innovator and technology leader, these are the sort of people that simply energise you with their achievement. I could wax lyrical here but better still watch the video below for a lecture in how to go about changing things...If you like Elon Musk you'll love Mr Rimac! (please find the time to watch the whole thing as it recounts a remarkable journey)
Lukas NECKERMANN - I 'met' Lukas on LinkedIn as indeed I 'meet' many fine folk. We then had a coffee rendezvous in London last year, and his fantastic book 'The Mobility Revolution' shares much of what Mr Rimac clearly believes in. I recommend it wherever I go, and I've thrust a copy into the hands of a number of automotive luminaries to date and insisted they read it! Fortunately Lukas kindly lets me have a fresh copy as 'payment' (I'm not his agent btw!)
Sir Gordon MURRAY - In truth, I've only met Sir Gordon a few times at events such as the annual Millbrook Low Carbon Vehicle bash - LCV (organised by CENEX). However, I did share a platform with him in the video below. If you watch that you'll see I was part of a UKTI forum with a host of amazing talent ( I must have slipped through the net - there's always one ). Riversimple, Ricardo, Caparo, Intelligent Energy and Flybrid - all share their shape of the future.
Mark PRESTON - I've known Mark for a few years and helped him out this year with some of the Aguri Team's activity at the Long Beach FIA Formula E Race. He has an impressive track record in Motorsport - and is passionate about delivering progress. However, perhaps most of all he wants to win races! In the clip below you'll get the gist of what goes on in the garage as part of the exciting Formula E series.
Wow! - What a bunch of amazing people!
©Electric Vehicles Outlook Ltd
LinkedIn TOP VOICE for EV 🏆, Event MC, 🎙️ The Electric & Eclectic Podcast Show Host, 🎬 Documentary Maker, Board Advisor, Harmonica Player, Business Consultant & Investor -Founder Electric Vehicles Outlook Ltd
9yCheers for all that Mr N :-)
Advisor, Board Member | Helping leaders, founders, and investors navigate the #MobilityRevolution | #SmartCities #SmartMobility | Teacher, Learner, Keynote Speaker (on 5 continents)
9yDeeply humbled, Roger Atkins to be included in your list. Indeed it's an amazing time, that will change our lives like nothing else in our lifetimes (including the Internet). A new game with new rules requires new players with fresh approaches. Mate's story at Rimac Automobili d.o.o. is inspiring and fantastic... and a super example of how a non-traditional, small company (in an unexpected location) can leapfrog traditional, 100-year-old players. To think that the "old guard" still believe in economies of scale... The video is truly worth watching, as Mate addresses the disruption caused by the Mobility Revolution on so many levels... Sir Gordon Murray hits the nail on the head for the UK: "We led the last Industrial Revolution... and we can lead the new one as well"... but this applies not just for electrification, but also for wireless charging and autonomous vehicles, where the UK is clearly leading Europe. On sharing models, Hugo Spowers and Riversimple (in the video and also in my book) illustrates passion and a unique approach to Zero Emissions and Zero Ownership, which should be on everyone's radar. Last but certainly not least, Team Aguri Formula E (and in fact all of the Formula E stables) are creating a new generation of enthusiastic racing fans... without the guilt and pain associated with traditional motor racing. We need to remind ourselves it's still only a tiny community of people who so passionately believe and understand where this road is heading. Thank you for this collection and your tireless work in communicating and collaborating, Roger. A brighter future awaits for us all.
LinkedIn TOP VOICE for EV 🏆, Event MC, 🎙️ The Electric & Eclectic Podcast Show Host, 🎬 Documentary Maker, Board Advisor, Harmonica Player, Business Consultant & Investor -Founder Electric Vehicles Outlook Ltd
9yWhat a challenge Trond! OK, here goes. Any venture MUST qualify/quantify the market first. Use sound data and independent voices. Work backwards from there. In the case of Modec, we should have developed a 3.5T GVW Vehicle as it is a much bigger market and less issue with deployment e.g. driver licences than the 5.5T market.Target the customer opportunity and avoid being a venue/stop-off for note takers and ego rubbers. Look for Pareto in you prospect/customer base. Keep the team tight and very hard working - less is often more. Look for JV opportunity if appropriate and always be honest/realistic with your backers. I can't be more explicit for fear of upsetting some good friends...
Venture Developer, Board Member, Pre-Seed Investor
9yRoger - Inspiration from success is great, and I appreciate your sharing. It would be great to hear your observations about reasons for venture failure (you indicate having been around the track a few times) and perhaps what would make a difference, without becoming too general ;-).