E-Scooter new merge: A Tale of Survival

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Six bullets of updates

1. 🚘 Hertz pulls the brakes on EVs and plans to sell 20,000 cars due to unexpected depreciation and high repair costs.

2. 💨 Swiss startup Sirius Aviation works in the world's first hydrogen-electric vertical take-off aircraft, aiming for a 2028 takeoff.

3. 🌐 Startup founders leverage Reg A and CF for fundraising, making equity investments accessible to a broader pool of investors. 

4. 🫘 Specialty coffee startups in India secure nearly $100M in VC funds due to rising consumption and reduced costs.

5. 🌧️ Climate tech is flushing with funding, with potential trillions coming from tax credits and incentives for eco-friendly investments.

6. 🚢 Columbia Group sets sail in VC with Galactic Beacon Ventures. It aims to nurture startups in the maritime and logistics sectors.

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What does the Tier-Dott merge say about survival?

E-scooter startups Tier and Dott are uniting forces. Inevitably, together, the merger will become a dominant force in European micro-mobility. Because of the context and the needs in common for these two companies, it’s a move that smells like survival spirit. 🛴

Acting separately, they were not going to reach IPO scale, so…Think on Avengers or Justice League; it’s the same thing: joining superpowers in hard times. (Thanos doesn’t like this.)

In the case of this loving couple joining forces, it will unlock new markets, harness economies of scale, and expand the portfolio. (E-bikes come as part of the formula. 🚲) 

Tier and Dott merge might be a good case of something that we might see happening once and again this same year, and we’re not talking just about the micro-mobility territory. 2024 is the year to accelerate efforts towards profitability. Market consolidation will help with that mission. 

Taking this case as an example of what a merger needs, let’s think of some characteristics required for survival in every business: 

✅ Shared values and objectives.
✅ Market dominance.
✅ Collaborative synergy.

The year is still too young, but let’s wait for more weddings shortly. 🔔

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Takeaways from this week’s podcasts

LatAm is the New Frontier for Startup Expansion

European startups are increasingly eyeing Latin American markets for expansion, with Poland and Romania joining Spain and Portugal in the exploration. Fintech startup Payflow, for example, has seen a third of its business come from Latin America since its expansion there.

However, the region has challenges. Recruiting experienced leaders reasonably cheaply proves difficult, and navigating local governmental requirements can be tricky. Despite this, investors claim countries like Chile are making it easier for foreign startups to establish a presence.

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