In this episode of ICONS, host Roman Kirsch interviews Eric Wahlforss, founder of SoundCloud and Dance. From building one of the world's most influential music platforms to revolutionizing urban mobility through e-bike subscriptions, Eric shares how he's created two category-defining brands across completely different industries. His journey reveals the power of product-first thinking, authentic community building, and leveraging network effects to scale from zero to millions of users. Through SoundCloud's transformation from a simple sharing tool to a cultural phenomenon that launched entire music genres, and Dance's approach to turning mobility hardware into a beloved subscription service, Eric demonstrates how great brands emerge from solving real user pain points with obsessive attention to product quality and customer feedback.
Topics Discussed:- Building viral growth loops through product utility rather than marketing spend
- Creating authentic communities around creator expression and lifestyle products
- Scaling network effects from single-player utility to multi-sided platforms
- Leveraging early adopters and influencers as authentic brand ambassadors
- Transforming traditional product categories into subscription services
- Managing complex supply chains and city-by-city expansion challenges
- Converting user pain points into moments of delight through service excellence
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