Shared microbial startup VOI is in the hunt for acquisitions. And at CEO Frederik Hjelm’s desire is Bolt, the European mobile super-app best known for riding.
Not that Bolt’s microbility – business is definitely for sale – despite talking about VOI by buying the company Scooter and bicycle arm. Bolt refused to comment when Techcrunch extended.
“Bolt is a great company but they are mainly ride Company, “Hjelm told Techcrunch about a stage at the surrounding table of Micromobility Industries in Brussels, where he was joined by Bird Co-Ceo Michael Washinushi and Henri Moissinac, Dutt/Tier Director General.
Hjelm said Bolt’s challenge is that it must be “extremely good in several verticals.” In addition to riding, Bolt offers food and food, as well as cars.
“Micromobility is very difficult, and it has the device appearance, but no network effect as how to deliver food and riding [can lead to] Also food delivery, “Hjelm said.
He noted that most people who pick up a shipping E-scooter or E-bike are locals who prioritize experience and affordability instead of the ability to use “Super-App” as Bolt.
When he gave an example of riders who use microbial services because they recognize the brand – and may not want to download another application – he stuck to this thesis. Hjelm said he does not think brand recognition is enough to compensate for a worse user experience.
Of course, there is no data proving that VOI offers a better user experience than Bolt. That did not prevent others on the panel from joining the bolt.
“Bolt uses a price as a loss,” said Bird’s Washinushi, alluding to Bolt’s ability to trust income from his other operations to grow his microbial business. “They are discounting the price, and so they get installations. My sense is that they don’t make a huge investment in … really good operations in micromorb.”
Washinushi noted that a bird, as well as Dott and VOI, use a lot of data to re -balance vehicles.
“You can throw away thousands of vehicles and hope people get rides, or you can … put half of those vehicles in the right place and right time to optimize the rides and optimize the price,” he said. “And here [how] The business has really evolved in the past two or three years … that, for us, makes it a very self -help business. ”
In 2024, Bird said it reached $ 19 million adjusted Ebitda -Profit – all the feat for a company that had delisted of the bag and filed for Bankruptcy Two years ago. VOI also reached his First profit year Last year with an adjusted EBITDA of $ 17.9 million.
Bolt did not share financial numbers for his micro -morbid business. In November 2024, the company said it hit 2.11 billion dollars in annual income Across its business units, but did not share how much it lost. According to Local reportsBolt registered revenue of about $ 2 billion in 2023 on an operational loss of $ 108 million.
Techcrunch tried to follow Wednesday with Hjelm about why he would like to get Bolt and whether he talked to the company.
“I’m at the Swedish house Mafia reunion and think about Bolt tomorrow,” he replied.
Techcrunch will update this story if Hjelm has more to say about the matter.
