We recently had the privilege of interviewing Charles Kuhlman, Founder and CEO at Kool Kollekt. Charles’ journey over these years, from being an entrepreneur and starting several ventures to establishing his brand as one of the promising startups in the Middle East, was always challenging. His tenacious trait as an entrepreneur is an inspiration for many. The CEO shares his career journey, challenges and triumphs, and emerging market trends in this interview.
Kool Kollekt is a startup that provides chilled last-mile deliveries for essentials, including food, pharmaceuticals, and others; it intends to be the most sustainable chilled last-mile delivery company. Moreover, Charles Kuhlman’s insight on learning by doing and following the instincts in the entrepreneurial journey offers invaluable lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Career Overview
We started the interview by asking, “Could you share a brief overview of your career journey, including key milestones and transitions?”
Charles shared, “I have been an entrepreneur since 2008, started in the media & publishing industry founding 3 different magazines. One magazine eventually failed, but the other went well, and I sold it to an established publishing house in 2010. After this period, I transitioned into real estate. I started as a real estate agent in London, where I was selected as rookie lister of the year in 2012 and successfully sold many apartments, especially to overseas investors.
When my son Maximus was born in late 2013, we moved back to Finland, and I started a new company, the first ever to sell and distribute Protein ice cream. However, I started afresh in 2015 with my brand, Muuti, an organic smoothie for kids that you find in supermarkets near such brands as Ellas Kitchen. I was the first to introduce organic rice protein in these smoothies. Eventually, I launched Muuti in Italy, Spain, and China – the culmination point where I lost significantly and went bankrupt in 2017.”
He continued, “I was growing too much and too fast, with not enough good people around me, and naturally, made some silly and stupid decisions along the way. After a few years of doing B2B sales coaching for companies, I was approached by Gordon Delivery, Scandinavia’s largest chilled last-mile delivery company. I started as a Country manager and eventually grew that business from zero to what it is today – after a year or so, I was asked to come over to the HQ in Sweden and start focusing on the expansion and new markets, especially the UK of which I did for a year.
Then, last year, in 2022, I decided to return to my roots and start a business elsewhere, seeing the urgent need for a reliable, tech-enabled, chilled, last-mile delivery company, especially in the warmer geographical areas such as the UAE and GCC. Now, after 6 months, we have more than 30 customers, doing more than hundreds of deliveries each day and having a team of 25 here in Dubai. We were elected as one of the most promising startups in the Middle East region by Seamless 2023, and also part of a startup accelerator program in Italy called almacube.”
Learning By Doing
We were intrigued to learn the influence of education on Charles Kuhlman’s career journey. So, we asked, “How has your education influenced your career choices and growth in this industry?”
He replied, “I am more of an entrepreneurial person and have learned by doing. Of course, the educational background gives you a certain base. However, it is in the ability to take action and to have certain visions that make or break you.”
Overcoming Challenges
Every business passes through certain challenging phases. So, we asked, “How do you tackle challenges in your field amidst changing market dynamics and technological advancements?”
“By identifying the key things that separate us from the competition. We must be present and follow certain trends. For instance, sustainability has been one of the critical factors that our customers value, and we do things to accommodate sustainability in our business model. Another thing is to execute and do – more than the others are doing and then trying to implement this culture to all our employees – to go that extra mile, have fun, learn, and believe in what we do.” Charles shared.
Adapting To The Latest Trends
We asked, “How do you ensure your company remains adaptable to emerging trends and technologies?”
He continued, “Getting the best possible people in the business gives them the freedom to evolve and just try to be there and learn daily. We must be innovative, and innovation is the key to our company. We must always find solutions to improve and optimize everything, to be lean and an agile company.”
Plans For The Business We Asked Charles
To learn more about Charles’s venture plans, we asked, “What are your plans or goals for your career and company?”
He replied, “The goal is to grow this business and become the world’s most sustainable chilled last-mile delivery company. I may even step aside from the CEO, remain a board member and shareholder, and explore new adventures again.”
Following The Inner Voice
Life puts forward different lessons at changing phases. So, we asked, “What valuable lessons have you learned throughout your career?”
Charles replied, “As long as you have your head, arms, and legs working – everything is possible. You must have belief in yourself and really, never give up. Also – listen to your inner voice and listen to your instincts.”
Stand-Out Factors
We were intrigued to learn about the unique services offered by Charles Kuhlman’s company. We asked, “How do you differentiate your services from competitors in the current market?”
“Pretty much everything, in terms of training our drivers and staff, how to handle sensitive products, training in the regulations of the unbroken cold chain, and overall customer service and on a communicational level, is different from our competitors. Because what matters is what type of energy we deliver forward – that is important. We also try and start with creating new services and products that make a difference in this business, such as the KoolSensor and the KoolBox, that add massive value for our customers and our business.” Charles replied.
Navigating Through Global Trends
“How has your company effectively navigated and capitalized on emerging global market trends or shifts in consumer behavior?”
He replied, “From the very start, I wanted to have a business that has a positive impact on the environment, and that is why we truly want to be part of it from our end to reduce both food and packaging waste, as well as reducing the overall CO2 emissions. This we do with certain programs we have in our company and with products that have a direct positive impact on the environment.”
Advice To Beginners
Our last question was, “What are the most important qualities or skills you believe beginners should cultivate to thrive in this industry?”
“In any industry, and especially if you want to start your own business, the following 3 things are key: Believe, Plan, and Do. Otherwise, learn from the bottom and make your way up step by step. You must be flexible, adapt to different situations, cope with pressure, and keep moving forward.” He concluded.
Connect with Charles Kuhlman on LinkedIn.
Find Kool Kollekt on LinkedIn or visit their website to learn more.
