Welcome to a special series of Frontiers! The team were shocked to discover a significant gap in the uptake of EVs amongst women in the UK. So hosts Iona Morton and Sam Munson from The Upside set off on a mission to discover why this is. 

In this launch episode, they sit down with Niku, Founder of The Upside, a Sia company, to reveal the surprising findings from their groundbreaking research. 

Sam and Iona share insights gathered from in-depth interviews with women drivers across the UK, from an EV convert in Edinburgh to a meticulous researcher in Kent. They uncover two core reasons for the significant sales gap – a perceived mismatch of EV capabilities & women’s lifestyles, compounded by a deficit of trust amongst this group.  

Tune in to understand the complex barriers to EV adoption and learn what the automotive industry can do to bridge this gap. Subscribe to hear our upcoming episodes featuring industry experts, including automotive engineer David Trinder, Felicity Kelly of Motability Operations, and racing driver Charlie Martin. 

Read our Report ‘Bridging the EV Gender Gap’ – https://www.sia-partners.com/en/insights/publications/bridging-ev-gender-gap 

Discover more about The Upside, a Sia company – https://www.theupside.net/ 

Chat to us about how we can help you with your next frontier – [email protected] 

David Trinder has spent years shaping the cars we see on the road today, with a career spanning Jaguar Land Rover and McLaren Automotive, as well as EV start-up Arrival. With deep expertise in how vehicles are designed, engineered and experienced, he’s uniquely placed to unpack why so many women still feel that electric cars don’t fit into their everyday lives.  

In this episode, Sam and Iona talk to David about the perceived “lifestyle mismatch” between EVs and women’s needs - from family practicality and breakdown worries to the ongoing questions around sustainability. He shares what’s behind many common concerns, how EV design has started to solve the problems women face, and what still needs to change for electric vehicles to genuinely work for everyone. 

Read our Report ‘Bridging the EV Gender Gap’ – https://www.sia-partners.com/en/insights/publications/bridging-ev-gender-gap 

Discover more about The Upside, a Sia company – https://www.theupside.net/ 

Chat to us about how we can help you with your next frontier – [email protected] 

Motability Operations runs the Motability Scheme, which gives disabled people a lifeline, connecting them to life-changing independence and freedom. As Head of Connected Mobility, Felicity Kelly sits at the intersection of access, innovation and inclusive design, ensuring that disabled people aren’t left behind as the UK transitions to electric vehicles.  

In this episode, Iona Morton and Sam Munson talk to Felicity about how the Motability Scheme is supporting customers with the transition to electric when it's right for them. They explore the real barriers people face - from cost and charging access to confidence and trust - and why designing with accessibility in mind ultimately creates better solutions for everyone. 

Learn more about Motability Operations work – https://www.mo.co.uk/ 

Read our Report ‘Bridging the EV Gender Gap’ – https://www.sia-partners.com/en/insights/publications/bridging-ev-gender-gap 

Discover more about The Upside, a Sia company – https://www.theupside.net/ 

Chat to us about how we can help you with your next frontier – [email protected] 

Professional racing driver and LGBTQIA+ activist Charlie Martin is on a mission to make motorsport more inclusive, all while chasing history as the first trans woman to compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. As brands shape the future of mobility, voices like hers reveal why representation, design innovation and trust matter more than ever.  

In this episode, Iona Morton and Sam Munson talk to Charlie about breaking barriers on and off the track. They explore how EV technology can unlock new forms of excitement, why clear communication is key to building confidence among women drivers, and how rethinking design could inspire the next generation of motorists. 

Find out more about Charlie Martin – https://gocharlie.co.uk/ 

Follow Charlie – @GoCharlieM on Instagram 

Read our Report ‘Bridging the EV Gender Gap’ – https://www.sia-partners.com/en/insights/publications/bridging-ev-gender-gap 

Discover more about The Upside, a Sia company – https://www.theupside.net/ 

Chat to us about how we can help you with your next frontier – [email protected]

World of Women began as a women-founded NFT project, gaining the attention of notable holders including Reese Witherspoon and Shonda Rhimes. As the community grows, the team remains true to its mission - to get more women into Web3.

In this episode, Niku and Iona talk to Samantha about building a supportive community both offline and online. They discuss the creative potential of owning IP rights and why more Web3 companies need to prioritise inclusivity.

Links

Learn more about World of Women https://www.worldofwomen.art/ and listen to Samantha’s podcast Healing But Human https://open.spotify.com/show/2P6uGjVFIESchT1Qo4ckLl

Read The Upside’s Better Metaverse Report https://bettermetaverse.theupside.net/

Discover more about The Upside 

https://www.theupside.net/

https://www.instagram.com/theupside.london

Dive into the world of sneakers and digital collectables with Aglet's creator, Ryan David Mullins.

From a sneaker-loving kid to a Web3 entrepreneur, Ryan is revolutionising commerce with a collectable experience that blends physical and digital worlds.

Join John and Niku as they speak to Ryan about the cultural significance of sneakers, how collecting has shifted into the online world and how to build whole new on-life worlds.

Links

Follow Ryan on Instagram @ryandavidmullins and explore Aglet for yourself https://aglet.app/

Read The Upside’s Better Metaverse Report https://bettermetaverse.theupside.net/

Discover more about The Upside 

https://www.theupside.net/

https://www.instagram.com/theupside.london

At the turn of the millennium Cherry Freeman experienced first-hand the sudden rise and fiery fall of start up boo.com. Now as a VC and Founder at Hiro Capital, we explore Cherry's investment secrets - from timing the market to picking the winners.

In this episode John and Niku delve into Cherry’s unique journey. We discover how this early experience shapes her investment strategy today, where she sees opportunity in Web3 and the critical role that content plays in investment. 

Links

Find out more about what Cherry is investing in at Hiro Capital https://hiro.capital/

Read The Upside’s Better Metaverse Report https://bettermetaverse.theupside.net/

Discover more about The Upside 

https://www.theupside.net/

https://www.instagram.com/theupside.london

As climate scientists warn we’re on the brink of no return, a new movement believes technology can turn things around. Regenerative Finance, or ReFi, is a revolutionary financial movement using collective action and investment in planet healing projects.

Join Iona and Niku as they dive into the world of ReFi with John Ellison. They explore how DAOs are empowering climate action and the potential of Web3 to save our planet. Is ReFi the answer we've been searching for?

Links

Follow John’s journey on X (Twitter) @climateXcrypto and listen to the ReFi podcast to learn more https://twitter.com/ReFiPodcast

Read The Upside’s Better Metaverse Report https://bettermetaverse.theupside.net/

Discover more about The Upside 

https://www.theupside.net/

https://www.instagram.com/theupside.london

Latasha isn't just making music, she's making history. From battling industry players for a pay cheque to selling her own music videos on the blockchain for tens of thousands of dollars. Latasha saw the potential of the blockchain to financially empower artists and set out to pioneer that change.

In this episode John and Niku talk to Latasha about the complexities of identity, the power of community, and how technology is building a more equitable music industry.

Links

Follow Latasha’s movements on social media @callmelatasha, or check her out on Zora https://zora.co/latasha.eth

Read The Upside’s Better Metaverse Report https://bettermetaverse.theupside.net/

Discover more about The Upside 

https://www.theupside.net/

https://www.instagram.com/theupside.london

A new movement is sweeping the art world - generative art creates unique artworks through leveraging algorithms. But will this technology democratise art or repeat its traditional biases? 

Join Niku and John as they speak to Erick Calderon, founder of Artblocks. They explore the origins of this movement, how technology is shaping a new art form, and if NFTs could become the defining art distribution method of our time.

Links

Follow Erick’s work on Twitter @artonblockchain and explore the world of generative art https://www.artblocks.io/

Read The Upside’s Better Metaverse Report https://bettermetaverse.theupside.net/

Discover more about The Upside 

https://www.theupside.net/

https://www.instagram.com/theupside.london

Last year, The Upside dove deep into the Metaverse and its underlying technologies. While we uncovered exciting possibilities for an internet built on inclusion and equality, we also identified risks of perpetuating the same biases already ingrained in our online spaces.

Join us in Frontiers Season 3 as we explore the world of Web3 pioneers shaping a better Metaverse. The journey begins Monday, February 12th.

Links

Read The Upside’s Better Metaverse Report - https://bettermetaverse.theupside.net/

Discover more about The Upside - 

https://www.theupside.net/

https://www.instagram.com/theupside.london