Skip to main content

woom CEO Mathias Ihlenfeld named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2023 Gulf South Award Finalist

The award celebrates ambitious entrepreneurs who are building bolder futures

4/26/2023

Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) today announced that Mathias Ihlenfeld of woom has been named an Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2023 Gulf South Award finalist. Now in its 37th year, Entrepreneur Of The Year is one of the preeminent competitive business awards for transformative entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies who are building a more equitable, sustainable and prosperous world for all.

Ihlenfeld was selected by an independent panel of judges. Entrepreneurs were evaluated based on their demonstration of building long-term value through entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth and impact, among other core contributions and attributes.

“I started the woom bikes USA operation 10 years ago in a garage in Austin, and we have now grown to 60 US employees who strive to bring joy to families daily,” Ihlenfeld said. “I’m honored to be named a finalist and know this accomplishment is a testament to our amazing woom team and our mission of creating the next generation of cyclists who will make the world a better place.”

Regional award winners will be announced on June 15, during a special celebration. The winners will then be considered by the National judges for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards, which will be presented in November at the annual Strategic Growth Forum®, one of the nation’s most prestigious gatherings of high-growth, market-leading companies. The Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner will then move on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Award in June 2024.

The Entrepreneur Of The Year program has recognized more than 11,000 entrepreneurs throughout the US since its inception in 1986, and it has grown to recognize business leaders across 145 cities in over 60 countries around the world.

About woom

woom is a kids’ bicycling company in Austin, Texas with a mission to get millions of kids on bikes. Now celebrating 10 years of growth, woom has disrupted the kids bike category with award-winning bikes that are 40% lighter than conventional kids bikes, making them the lightest series-production kids’ bikes in the world. For more information, visit www.woom.com or @woombikesusa on Instagram.

Sponsors

Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards include presenting sponsors PNC Bank, N.A.; SAP America; and the Kauffman Foundation. In the Gulf South, sponsors also include Colliers, DLA Piper, Marsh McLennan Agency, ADP, Pierpont Communications and vcfo.

About Entrepreneur Of The Year®

Entrepreneur Of The Year® is the world’s most prestigious business awards program for unstoppable entrepreneurs. These visionary leaders deliver innovation, growth and prosperity that transform our world. The program engages entrepreneurs with insights and experiences that foster growth. It connects them with their peers to strengthen entrepreneurship around the world. Entrepreneur Of The Year is the first and only truly global awards program of its kind. It celebrates entrepreneurs through regional and national awards programs in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries. National Overall Award winners go on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ title. Visit ey.com/us/eoy.

Inquiries & contact:

Cristina Nguyen, PR Manager
[email protected]