Entrepreneur and investor Quinten Selhorst looks back with mixed feelings on his adventure with Felyx, the scooter sharing company he co-founded.
During the election for Startup of the Year 2025, organized by MT/Sprout, he was interviewed by editor-in-chief Donovan van Heuven. Although Selhorst learned a lot from doing business in a market full of competition, he wonders with the knowledge he has now whether he would go down the same path again.
According to Selhorst, one of the biggest challenges in the early stages was finding working capital. 'We financed the scooters with debt instead of equity, because you have to be very careful with that in the early stages,' he explains. 'It's quite difficult to do that, based on just a business plan.' That choice meant that the young startup had to prove itself to investors and financiers early on.
At the same time, the first phase was by far the most fun, according to him. 'The cowboying and pioneering together. Everything is new, everything works in broad terms, the speed is high, there is little politics and little hassle,' he says enthusiastically. During that period, Felyx grew rapidly and the dark green shared scooters became a familiar street scene in various cities. 'It is of course a huge kick to suddenly see dozens, and later hundreds, of scooters driving around with your company logo.'
“Let's just grab a Felyx.”
Shared scooters have become a popular option in recent years much discussed topic became. Where the electric two-wheelers were initially praised as a sustainable and flexible alternative to public transport and cars, discussions soon arose about nuisance and regulations. Cities such as Amsterdam and Rotterdam intervened with stricter rules and geofencing, while some municipalities banned the shared scooters completely.
Felyx's success also attracted stiff competition. Big players like GO Sharing and Check entered the same market, which led to a fierce battle for market share. 'It's a mega-competitive market,' Selhorst acknowledges. 'That makes it challenging, but also educational.'
Although Felyx grew and expanded internationally, the challenges kept piling up. The rise of shared scooter companies was accompanied by financial uncertainty, difficult permit procedures and a changing public opinion. Still, Selhorst does not look back with regret. 'Entrepreneurship is always a risk, but you learn a lot from it. I would advise everyone to start pioneering, but be aware of the challenges that come with it.'
Source: MT/Sprout
