Bolt

How did a small Estonian start-up become one of the fastest-growing tech companies with over 200 million customers and 4.5 million partners in 50 countries? One word: culture. Ever since Markus, Martin and Oliver created Bolt ten years ago, our operating principles have been guiding us along the way. So, to celebrate our 10th birthday, we made a video about them. 🟢 Customer first We optimise for long-term positive impact on the world, not just personal gains next quarter. That means always starting from the customer's needs and working backwards to find solutions. 🟢 Act like an owner We care about what’s best for the company, not only one team. Whenever we see problems outside of our area of responsibility, we speak up and try to help. 🟢 Be frugal We consider the impact of every resource we spend. That’s how we solve difficult problems with less than other companies spend on office perks. But when we identify opportunities that make a difference, we invest aggressively. 🟢 Extreme pragmatism We discard most opportunities to focus on what matters. We balance common sense and data to arrive at the right decisions. We don’t fool ourselves that we’re perfect and take critical feedback seriously. 🟢 We challenge each other but mean well The best solutions are found through intense, but respectful debate. We seek out people that can prove our arguments wrong, not simply confirm our beliefs. We give honest feedback to help people grow, but make sure they know we’re on their side. 🟢 We work hard and smart We take pride in pushing ourselves to achieve extraordinary things, but we know our true limits and when to take a break. We never put in hours just for the sake of hours. What matters is impact and if we find a shortcut to success, we go for it. 🟢 Be better, not different There is no point in reinventing the wheel if it works for us. But the opposite is also true — everybody else doing something doesn’t make it right. Where it matters, we think from first principles and create solutions that nobody has thought of before. 🟢 Short-term pessimism, long-term optimism We’re focused on existing problems and upcoming challenges in our daily work. But we remain highly optimistic that the future will be far better than the present. We just realise that to get there, we can never grow arrogant or take the trust of customers for granted. 🟢 Great people over complex processes We believe that the better people we have, the fewer processes we need. We empower our teams and give them the freedom to make decisions, keeping bureaucracy to a minimum. 🟢 Have fun! People perform best when surrounded by those they enjoy spending time with. People who raise others up, not put them down. We want to be a positive influence on those around us, by pushing them to achieve extraordinary things and giving praise whenever it’s due. Sounds like the place for you? Apply today 👉 http://careers.bolt.eu

My name is Jaanus, and I purchased a computer with a fake credit card. Today, as I celebrate seven years at Bolt 🎉, I thought it would be the perfect time to share how I got into fraud prevention. The year was 2001. I had just started studying computer science in the US. Back then, smartphones didn’t really exist, and not every student owned a laptop. Tired of relying on the computer lab, I decided to buy one. Being a broke student, a used laptop on eBay was my only option. I found a suitable Toshiba Tecra, won the bidding war, and was ready to pay. But there was one problem: no US bank account, no US credit card. 💳❌ Thankfully, my Estonian bank offered virtual prepaid Visa cards. I created one, entered the details, and clicked “Pay.” Problem solved… or so I thought. A day later, eBay flagged my account. They needed a copy of my ID and credit card to verify the purchase. But my Visa card was virtual—there was nothing to photocopy. 😬 Armed with MS Paint and the images from my bank’s website, I designed a fake credit card 🎨. I found a Visa logo on Altavista, added my details, and even used the airbrush tool to mimic a photocopy’s texture. Satisfied with the result, I emailed the “copy” to eBay. (Pro tip: Never email a copy of your credit card to anyone! 🚨) They accepted my submission. ✅ The laptop arrived, and I used it to earn my Master’s degree. That degree and a referral from my old classmate led me to Skype, which (ironically) was owned by eBay at the time. And the job? Developing internal tools for the Fraud Team 💼 I went from using a fake card to stopping others from doing the same. 🔄 (photo: Evelin Elmest)

Let’s talk about it! 💚 International Men’s Day highlights the challenges men face—like abuse, homelessness, violence, and addiction. At Bolt, we marked the day with an honest conversation about substance abuse and addiction—topics we often avoid but affect many. Men are more likely to experience substance abuse in their lifetime; these discussions aren’t just important—they’re necessary. Led by Erik Heintare and Jaan Väärt, an addiction therapy professional, the session offered candid insights, practical advice on recognising early signs, and ways to provide support. At Bolt, we’re committed to creating meaningful conversations because breaking stigmas can change lives. *** This session was part of our ongoing internal event series, ‘Inclusion Dialogues', which covers topics such as gender, religious beliefs, disability, race, sexual orientation, parenthood, neurodiversity, and more—themes that resonate with and reflect our employees' diverse life experiences. #bolt #lifeatbolt #diversityatbolt

Together with 13 European stakeholders, we're calling on the EU to modernise ride-hailing regulations. Here’s why it matters: 👉 1 in 4 Europeans depend on ride-hailing, yet outdated rules leave 50% of ride requests in cities like Rome, Athens, and Dublin unmet. 👉 A unified transport market could bring €1,400 in annual benefits per EU citizen and create 600,000 new jobs by 2030. In our open letter, Ride to the Future, we’re urging the EU to: ✅ Establish consistent, modern regulations. ✅ Foster fair competition and innovation. ✅ Unlock the full potential of shared mobility across Europe. Let’s build a Single Market for Mobility—one that works for drivers, passengers, and cities alike.

Hey, I’m Shivam. For the last 3 years, I’ve led Bolt’s Rides Incentives Product team, focusing on how we re-invest profits to grow our Rides business globally. But what does it mean, and how does it support our mission? 💚 How we support Bolt’s mission We’re all about making cities for people, not cars. We give people alternatives to owning a private car. Most cars sit idle 95% of the time, so why not pick a better option that fits your transportation needs? I’m proud to be part of the team driving our ride-hailing growth and making this vision a reality. 💻 Inside my daily routine My role combines growth frameworks, business models, product strategy, and product development, allowing me to use my experience to help us reach our growth goals. I design strategies to reinvest profits into incentivising riders, drivers, and fleet owners, fueling growth in new and existing markets. I collaborate with Data Science, Analytics, Engineering, and Marketing teams to identify opportunities, build investment playbooks, improve campaign platforms, and address market challenges. I also ensure a smooth user experience across our campaigns. 🚗💨 My relationship with traffic Bolt’s mission is close to my heart. Throughout my career, I have lived in some of the most congested cities in India and Thailand. When I arrived in Tallinn, I was pleasantly surprised by the limited traffic. The smooth pavements made it easy to stroll with my child, creating a striking contrast to the heavy congestion in places like Bangkok. While we focus on improving cities in Europe and Africa, we also see opportunities elsewhere. I’m glad that Bolt is now in Bangkok, where I used to live. This shows our commitment to making city life better everywhere. *** If our mission inspires you, check out open vacancies and consider applying 👉 careers.bolt.eu #Bolt #LifeAtBolt

We’re hitting the road and visiting 16 cities across the UK to connect with our driver partners. From London to Edinburgh, we’ve been listening closely—discussing the challenges drivers face daily, addressing safety concerns, and brainstorming ways to enhance their experience with Bolt. And guess what? Their feedback is already shaping real improvements: 👉 Better earnings for minimum fare and long-distance trips 👉 A smoother, more efficient airport experience 👉 Testing safer pickup and drop-off processes 👉 Simplified access to CCTV discounts further protecting driver safety And this is just the beginning—more improvements are already in the works! #Bolt

From an initial €5000 loan to a €2 billion revenue powerhouse – that’s Bolt! Our Founder and CEO, Markus Villig, recently shared Bolt’s journey on 20VC, one of the world’s leading tech podcasts. In his conversation with Harry Stebbings, Markus explored: 📍The incredible growth trajectory that led us here going from zero to €2BN annualised revenue with a scrappy startup mentality. 📍How Bolt challenges the narrative that Silicon Valley is the only home for innovation and top talent. 📍His vision for autonomous vehicles and why platforms like Bolt will be crucial for their deployment. Curious about how we built Bolt, went global, and made tech history? Check out Markus’ inspiring episode on 20VC for the whole story! The link to the full episode is in the comments. #Bolt

Ever seen our employer branding videos or careers page pictures? Fun fact–they’re all starring Bolt’s very own people! Here's a behind-the-scenes flashback to when our Warsaw office transformed into a film set for the day. ***  📸:  Mikołaj Bernatowicz/Granator Film #Bolt #LifeAtBolt

Hello Malaysia, your Bolt ride has arrived! 🇲🇾 Imagine a city where owning a car is optional — less traffic, cleaner air, and more space for everyone. With us, you can get around easily without the cost or hassle of owning a car. With just a few taps on your phone, you can request a Bolt ride in Klang Valley in seconds and get picked up in minutes. #Bolt

Proof that our team *really* understood the assignment: crushing projects by day, haunting hallways by night. Swipe to see who took 'best dressed' to a whole new level. #Bolt #LifeAtBolt