That's me
JAKOB HÖLZEL
The tinkerer behind SMILE
Hi, I'm Jakob Hölzel and I'm passionate about innovation and technology!
Born in 1985 in Wriezen and raised in Brandenburg and Bavaria, I completed my master's degree in carpentry at the Landshut State Vocational School. My career began in the construction industry, but my drive for knowledge and optimization quickly led me into the world of renewable energies. I have been working as a development engineer on wind and hydropower projects since 2010.
My fascination lies in understanding and optimizing the entire development process - from the idea to the production of the prototype to the production of the pre-series. From 2017 to 2019, I deepened my knowledge of automation in mechanical engineering and developed self-taught skills in areas such as CAD design, 3D printing, metal processing, programming and machine learning.
I have been working on my own vehicle project since 2019: SMILE. Three years of research and development in my garage led to the further development of the project with new team members. Together with Lisa Schlenker, I am now working on the completion of the first prototype at the EMMA creative center in Pforzheim and am already developing the second prototype in collaboration with Pforzheim University and other partners. I am always ready to inspire new team members with my idea and work together on innovative solutions.
Our vision at SMILE Mobility is to create climate-friendly and global mobility with renewable energies and to reduce CO2 emissions. We focus on high quality materials and sustainable alternatives to exceed the needs of the modern mobility market. Our mission is inclusive and motivates trainees, students, the self-employed, craftsmen and companies to work towards more sustainable and energy-efficient mobility. Because change requires us all to get involved.
