You might think that this is another sports all-rounder in our start-ups circle: Yes, he once was a semi professional soccer player, he tried wrestling with the team, played handball, too… but Åsmund is no dogged sports type made of steel. He seems rather ‘gemütlich’ in a very likeable way. And this might be the reason that kicking balls on the green lawn is not his favourite sport – but sailing appeals to him. Actually, sailing is not less strenuous, if you should wonder. As a child from up north, Åsmund grew up by the sea and on a boat that has been his second home since he was born.
Until today, his being rooted there is quite perceptible. “Sailing is like the founding of an enterprise,” is the Norwegian’s opinion. “The wind always comes from a different direction, you have to make quick decisions. You have to be flexible.” There isn’t always much time, be it on the water or in an enterprise. Nevertheless, Åsmund is not afraid to make mistakes. “You have to correct mistakes, and what about it?” he says casually, and laughs. It might sound light and naïve to some – his attitude has gotten the thirty-one year old and his enterprise pretty far. Åsmund, his partner Paal Christian Myhre and their team already have a well-established company in Norway by now consisting of a team of six.
As a next step, Meshcrafts wants to break into the German market – thus needing German partners. With the swb AG, Meshcrafts has won the support of one of the biggest German players in the power industry. “The German energy sector differs a lot from the Norwegian market.” Pretty soon, Åsmund had understood these meaningful economical, but also cultural, differences. “Electric power is cheap in Norway, as we have enough of it. Here, in Germany, power is precious and very expensive.” It is Åsmund’s main job to translate their business model from one sociological context into the other. He listens very closely, analysing the crucial requirements of the German market. “Empathy is necessary.” Basically, Åsmund is sure of a huge potential – also because of the government’s funding and subsidising of the energy sector. “This, of course, means a big push for the market.” The essential advantage: Germany could learn from Norway’s mistakes concerning the establishment of electric transit solutions and benefit from existing knowledge.
Meshcrafts focuses energy providers as a target group on the one hand, automobile industry on the other. This is why there also is support from one of the largest car manufacturers: The Mercedes plant Bremen does not only provide Meshcrafts with Ariela Pagel as a tutor, it also presents something like an automobile microcosm where technology can be tested, examining the needs of the German market.
Plus, Åsmund wants to achieve a personal goal by establishing electric transit solutions on the market: “I want people to understand that cars are fun without internal-combustion engine! This is for all the ‘petrol freaks’ out there: The instant acceleration from a standing start of electric automobiles is incredible!”
