Scaling to $50M in revenue over 18 years with Timo Buetefisch (Cooltra)

The Only Thing That Matters

Timo Buetefisch is an entrepreneur like no other.
He's the founder of Cooltra and he is still running the company after 18 years.
Not only that, he's grown Cooltra "slow and steady" to over $50M in annual revenue over that period of time.
Learn how Cooltra grew from a humble bootstrap startup to a booming enterprise with 28,000 electric vehicles and 550 employees across nine countries.
In this episode, Timo also opens up about the biases entrepreneurs often face when forecasting revenue and the critical importance of maintaining realistic business plans. What if your entrepreneurial projections are setting you up for failure? Timo has been there and wants to prevent you from doing the same.
He discusses the evolution of Cooltra's business model, the strategic move into moped sharing in 2016, and the subsequent influx of equity funding that fueled their rapid expansion. Discover the teamwork and strategic choices that allowed Cooltra to thrive in a fiercely competitive market.
But it's not all business. Timo also opens up about the pressures of entrepreneurship and the impact of an intense work ethic on personal life, including his own. He reveals the vital role of peer learning networks in maintaining a work-life balance and long-term well-being.
This episode isn’t just about business growth; it's about surviving and thriving in the entrepreneurial world while keeping personal sanity intact. Tune in for an honest, insightful conversation that could reshape your entrepreneurial journey.

Chapters

1. The Entrepreneurial Journey of Timo Buttefisch (00:00:00)

2. Navigating Entrepreneurial Challenges and Integrity (00:11:44)

3. Evolution of a Successful Startup (00:19:22)

4. Entrepreneur Peer Learning Networks (00:34:54)

5. Navigating Investor Relationships for Growth (00:41:25)