Listen Here

| |
Subscribe

Conversation
Highlights

 

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech’s most innovative B2B founders. In today’s episode, we’re speaking with Kenneth Herschel, CEO & Co-Founder at Viggo, a sustainable mobility platform that has raised nearly $6 Million in funding. 

Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:

  • Origins in Electric Ride-Hailing: Kenneth outlines Viggo’s start as a response to Uber’s departure from Copenhagen, aiming to elevate the standard of taxi services with electric vehicles and superior technology.
  • Strategic Shift to EV Charging: The necessity for efficient charging for Viggo’s fleet revealed a larger market need, prompting a significant pivot towards developing urban EV charging solutions.
  • Exponential Growth in EV Charging: With a 250% growth in the EV charging sector, Kenneth highlights this segment’s rapid expansion as evidence of the burgeoning demand for reliable urban charging infrastructure.
  • Synergy Between Mobility and Charging: Kenneth discusses the operational harmony between Viggo’s ride-hailing and EV charging units, leveraging the visibility and needs of one to enhance and expand the other.
  • European Expansion Insights: Venturing into new markets, Kenneth reflects on the challenges and immense opportunities of scaling Viggo’s model across Europe, emphasizing the necessity of fast urban charging infrastructure.
  • The Power of Persistence: Through the trials of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kenneth emphasizes the critical role of persistence and belief in the face of adversity, underscoring a foundational principle for entrepreneurial resilience and success.

 

Actionable
Takeaways

Embrace Market Shifts:

Be ready to pivot and evolve your business model based on market needs. Viggo’s shift from ride-hailing to also include EV charging exemplifies responsiveness to emerging opportunities.

Leverage Synergies:

Identify and exploit synergies between different business units to enhance operational efficiency and market penetration. Viggo’s dual model leverages its ride-hailing fleet to support its EV charging network.

Plan for Expansion Thoughtfully:

When expanding into new markets, consider cultural, regulatory, and logistical differences. Viggo’s approach to expanding in Europe reflects strategic planning and adaptability.

Persistent Fundraising Efforts:

Always be in fundraising mode. Kenneth advises that continuous engagement with potential investors is crucial for long-term success and scalability.

Stay Persistent Through Challenges:

Persistence is key to overcoming unforeseen challenges. Viggo’s experience during the COVID-19 pandemic underscores the importance of resilience and adaptability in business.

Recommended Founder
Interviews

Greg Fallon

CEO of Geminus

Greg Fallon, CEO of Geminus: $12 Million Raised to Help the Industrial Sector Prepare for the Energy Transition

Listen now

Sid Jha

Founder & CEO of Arbol

Sid Jha, Founder & CEO of Arbol: Over $20 Million Raised to Build the Future of Climate Risk Management

Listen now

Ali Javidan

Co-Founder of Range Energy

Ali Javidan, Co-Founder of Range Energy: $9 Million Raised to Build the Future of Electric Semi-Trucks

Listen now

Ben Christensen

CEO of Cambium Carbon

Ben Christensen, CEO of Cambium Carbon: $5.5 Million Raised to Build a new Category of Sustainable Wood

Listen now

Alisa Valderrama

Co-founder and CEO of FutureProof Technologies

Alisa Valderrama, Co-founder and CEO of FutureProof Technologies: $10 Million Raised to Translate Climate and Weather and Financial Risk with Unprecedented Accuracy

Listen now

Josh Knauer

Co-Founder of Reseed

Josh Knauer, Co-Founder of Reseed: $5 Million Raised to Build the Future of Carbon Credits for Farmers

Listen now

Curtis VanWalleghem

CEO of Hydrostor

Curtis VanWalleghem, CEO of Hydrostor: $322 Million Raised to Build the Future of Energy Storage

Listen now

Kaitlyn Albertoli

CEO and Co-Founder of Buzz Solutions

Kaitlyn Albertoli, CEO and Co-Founder of Buzz Solutions: Nearly $6 Million Raised to Build the Future of Infrastructure Inspection

Listen now

Arvin Ganesan

CEO of Fourth Power

Arvin Ganesan, CEO of Fourth Power: $20 Million Raised to Build the Future of Energy Storage

Listen now

Manik Suri

Manik Suri, CEO and Founder of Therma: $30 Million Raised to Build the Cooling Intelligence Category

Listen now

Javier Marti

CEO and Founder of Divirod

Javier Marti, CEO & Founder of Divirod: $7.6 Million Raised to Build the Google Maps For Water

Listen now

Michael Belenkie

CEO and President of Entropy

Michael Belenkie, CEO and President of Entropy: $300 Million Raised to Spearhead Efficiency and Innovation in the Carbon Capture Economy

Listen now

Kameale Terry

Co-Founder and CEO of ChargerHelp!

Kameale Terry, Co-Founder and CEO of ChargerHelp!: Over $20 Million Raised to Build the Future of Electric Vehicle Infrastructure

Listen now

Dr. Kai-Philipp Kairies

CEO and Co-Founder of Accure

Dr. Kai-Philipp Kairies, CEO & Co-Founder of Accure: $18.5 Million Raised to Build the Future of Battery Intelligence

Listen now

Virginia Klausmeier

CEO and Founder of Sylvatex

Virginia Klausmeier, CEO and Founder of Sylvatex: More Than $15 Million Raised to Build a Better Class of Sustainable Materials and Drive the Green Revolution

Listen now

Thibault Castagne

CEO and Founder of Vianova

Thibault Castagne, CEO and Founder of Vianova: $8.8 Million Raised to Build the Go-To Operating System for the Mobility World

Listen now

Martin Kosak

Head of Marketing of Sensoneo

Event Marketing Mastery: Martin Kosak on Sensoneo’s Success at Trade Shows

Listen now

Elizabeth Muller

CEO and Co-Founder of Deep Isolation

Elizabeth Muller, CEO and Co-Founder of Deep Isolation: Over $22 Million Raised to Build the Future of Nuclear Waste Disposal

Listen now

Allen Kramer

Co-Founder & COO of Crux

Allen Kramer, Co-Founder and COO of Crux: $27 Million Raised to Power the Future of Sustainable Finance

Listen now

Antoine Welter

CEO and Co-Founder of Circu Li-ion

Antoine Welter, CEO & Co-Founder of Circu Li-ion: $8.5 Million Raised to Build the Future of Battery Upcycling

Listen now

Liz Gilligan

CEO & Founder of Material Evolution

Liz Gilligan, CEO & Founder of Material Evolution: $19 Million Raised to Build the Future of Sustainable Cement

Listen now

Dan Forman

CEO and Co-Founder of Copper Labs

Dan Forman, CEO and Co-Founder of Copper Labs: $13 Million Raised to Enable the Data-Driven Utility of the Future

Listen now

Astrid Atkinson

CEO & cofounder of Camus Energy

Astrid Atkinson, CEO of Camus Energy: $20 Million Raised to Build the Future of Grid Management

Listen now

Chris Hare

CEO of PRTI

Chris Hare, CEO of PRTI: Over $25 Million Raised to Transform America’s Billions of Waste Tires into Valuable Commodities

Listen now

Joselyn Lai

CEO & Co-Founder of Bedrock Energy

Joselyn Lai, CEO & Co-Founder of Bedrock Energy: $9 Million Raised to Power the Future of Geothermal Energy

Listen now

Tim Weiss

CEO and Co-Founder of Optera

Tim Weiss, CEO & Co-Founder of Optera: $17.5 Million Raised to Build the Future of Carbon Management and Accounting

Listen now

Gary Ong

CEO & Founder of Celadyne

Gary Ong, CEO & Founder of Celadyne: $5 Million Raised to Power the Future of Green Hydrogen Production

Listen now

Zak Lefevre

CEO of ChargeLab

Zak Lefevre, CEO of ChargeLab: $20 Million Raised to Build the Operating System for EV Chargers

Listen now

Joshua Riedy

CEO and Founder of Thread

Joshua Riedy, CEO and Founder of Thread: $20 Million Raised to Power the Future of Energy Grid Maintenance

Listen now

Khaled Hassounah

CEO & Founder of Ample

Khaled Hassounah, CEO and Founder of Ample: $290M Raised to Build the Future of EV Batteries

Listen now

Matt LeDucq

CEO and Co-Founder of Forum Mobility

Matt LeDucq, CEO & Co-Founder of Forum Mobility: $423 Million Raised to Power the Future of Zero-Emission Trucking

Listen now

Allison Wolff

CEO of Vibrant Planet

Allison Wolff, CEO at Vibrant Planet: $34 Million Raised to Build the Future of Land Management Restoration

Listen now

Doron Myersdorf

CEO of StoreDot

Doron Myersdorf, CEO of StoreDot : $200 Million Raised to Power the Future of Electric Vehicles

Listen now

Iain Cooper

CEO of SeekOps Inc.

Iain Cooper, CEO of SeekOps, $23 Million Raised to Build the Future of Emissions Monitoring

Listen now

Gary Lewis

CEO & Managing Director of Resourcify

Gary Lewis, CEO of Resourcify: $15 Million Raised to Build the Future of Recycling Management

Listen now

Matei Stratan

CEO of Ogre

Matei Stratan, CEO of Ogre: $2 Million Raised to Build the Future of Energy Management

Listen now

Michael Witte

CEO & Co-founder of Workrise

Michael Witte, CEO & Co-founder of Workrise: $750 Million Raised to Power the Future of the Energy Industry

Listen now

Troy Carter

CEO and Co-Founder of Earthshot Labs

Troy Carter, CEO and Co-Founder of Earthshot Labs: $11 Million Raised to Power the Future of Ecosystem Conservation and Restoration

Listen now

Omar Abou-Sayed

Co-Founder & Executive Chairman of Vaulted Deep

Omar Abou-Sayed, Co-Founder & Executive Chairman of Vaulted Deep: $8 Million Raised to Build the Future of Carbon Removal

Listen now

Quentin Scrimshire

CEO and Co-Founder of Modo Energy

Quentin Scrimshire, CEO & Co-Founder of Modo Energy: $20 Million Raised to Build the Energy Asset Benchmarking Category

Listen now

Kentaro Kawamori

CEO & Co-Founder of Persefoni

Kentaro Kawamori, CEO of Persefoni: $114 Million Raised to Build the Climate Disclosure & Carbon Management Category

Listen now

Greg Newbloom

CEO and Founder of Membrion

Greg Newbloom, CEO & Founder of Membrion: $23 Million Raised to Build the Future of Industrial Wastewater Treatment Solutions

Listen now