We proudly received recognition as the premier e-mobility company during one of Europe’s largest startup conferences! Curious to know how our team experienced Startup Ole ’23? Well, you’re in luck! Here’s a brief overview, and at the end, you can even watch a video from the event.

Startup Ole ’23
Held from September 4th to 7th, Startup Ole marked a significant milestone in its history, having attracted over 40,000 attendees from more than 120 countries, featuring 1,500 startups, scale-ups, and spin-offs, boasting 1,200 speakers, and hosting more than 300 corporations and investors with portfolios exceeding €100 billion. This year, the conference celebrated its anniversary edition, taking place in the enchanting city of Salamanca.
The primary objectives of this conference were to provide startups with a platform to showcase their innovations and to serve as a meeting ground for companies, investors, government representatives, and society.
Before we continue, the entire team at Kinetik would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the Ministry of Innovation and Growth of the Republic of Bulgaria and Minister Mrs. Stoycheva for their invitation and invaluable assistance in making this remarkable journey possible.
Joining us were nine other innovative Bulgarian startups:

Day 1 – Logistics, Arrival, and Setup
Our Kinetik team, comprised of Dani, Kris, and Yavor, embarked on a mission to present our company, with a special focus on our electric go-karts. Their aim was to establish Kinetik E-Karts on the European map and demonstrate why we take immense pride in these exceptional machines.

Transporting two 115 kg sports vehicles, however, was no simple feat. After receiving refusals or unfeasible delivery timelines from several shipping companies, we took it upon ourselves. Fearlessly, Yavor volunteered to undertake a 3000+ km journey across Europe, arriving in Salamanca five days ahead of Kris and Dani.
Once united, our team met with the event organizers, the Bulgarian delegation, and prepared the Kinetik 27 and Kinetik E-Kart at the Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones de Castilla y Leon.

Day 2 – Pitch Competition, Thrilling Demonstrations, and Engaging Conversations
Our second day in Salamanca marked the official start of the event. With over 200 startups presenting their products and services, Dani and Kris immediately drew substantial interest and garnered numerous questions regarding Kinetik and our go-karts. The CEO of Startup Ole, Mr. Emilio Corchado, was so impressed with the Kinetik E-Kart that he invited us to showcase its capabilities. Yavor accepted the challenge, taking our presentation outside the building. After some thrilling drifting, tire-burning, and smoke, our pilot received a standing ovation from the attendees.

Prior to Yavor’s spectacular demonstration, the first stage of the Pitching competitions took place, with attending startups divided into 12 verticals. Each presenter had a brief three minutes to introduce their company’s values, achievements, goals, and needs. Kris had the privilege of presenting Kinetik in the E-Mobility vertical. Later that day, our team in Spain received news that they had advanced to the competition’s final round, scheduled for the following day.

Day 3 – Grand Finale, Notable Visitors, and an Exclusive Interview
The final day of the conference began with a surprise visit. In the early morning, Mr. Juan García-Gallardo, Vice President of Castilla y León, met with our team, learned about Kinetik, and expressed great interest in the Kinetik 27 and Kinetik E-Kart. This encounter hinted at potential opportunities in the land of fiestas!

During midday, our team was invited for an interview with Radio USAL, where Dani discussed the Volvo, electric go-karts, Kinetik 07, plans for our STEAM electric go-kart, and the features of the Kinetik 21 Motorcycle. For more details, you can check our Kinetik Blog.
To conclude the event on a high note, Kris had the privilege of presenting the Karts once more to compete for the grand prize in the Startup Ole Pitch Competition. Following twelve strong presentations, the winners were revealed. Kinetik Automotive was crowned the best E-Mobility startup at one of Europe’s largest startup conferences! Our entire team felt immense pride in having their hard work and dedication acknowledged once again.
In addition to our success, two more Bulgarian startups received recognition in their respective verticals – Difold and Omnio. Congratulations to these exceptional companies!

The ultimate champion of the competition was the remarkable project by DotLumen. Kudos to them for their outstanding work!
In closing, our journey at Startup Ole ’23 was a remarkable experience that showcased the passion, innovation, and dedication that drove Kinetik forward. We are deeply grateful for the opportunities and recognition we received, and we remain committed to pushing the boundaries of e-mobility, consistently delivering cutting-edge solutions that make a positive impact on the world.
As we look to the future, we are excited to continue our mission of shaping the landscape of e-mobility and expanding the horizons of possibility. With this prestigious recognition and the support of our incredible team and partners, we are more inspired than ever to create a sustainable, electrifying future. Thank you for being a part of our journey, and we can’t wait to share the exciting developments that lie ahead. Stay tuned for more from Kinetik!