This is an interesting story about how his family’s past and a bratwurst lead Wim Ouboter to found Micro Mobility Systems, best known in the U.S. for their ‘kickboard’ products. The article is filled with nuances of manufacturing issues to deal with including the supply chain, I.P., even permission from loved ones to venture into startup business!

Bet you didn’t know that the invention of the kickboard scooter began with a sausage… the best bratwurst in Zurich.

Well, it did! In this Learning from InvENtors post, we’re going to highlight the inventor of the kickboard scooter – Wim Ouboter.

Ouboter’s first startup was a mechanical parts distributor. He readily admits that he lacks any formal engineering or technical training. Despite this, he continued working with wheel sizes, wheel bases and scooter decks for his first prototype.

He asserts that he ‘put a few things together’, and enlisted the assistance of a welder. At the same time, he decided to capitalize on the robust, but low-friction and absorbent plastics that were being produced for in-line skate wheels.

Read more.