Episode Overview

Podcast: Travis Makes Money
Host: Travis Chappell
Guest: Nelson Nigel, Founder & CEO of Kid Moto
Air Date: February 24, 2026
Episode Title: INTERVIEW | Make Money by Solving a Problem Parents Hate with Nelson Nigel

This episode centers around solving real-world problems through entrepreneurship. Host Travis Chappell interviews Nelson Nigel, who created Kid Moto—a business addressing the frustrations parents face when traveling with children and car seats. Nelson shares the story behind Kid Moto, discusses his journey from Uber driving and various past failures, and breaks down actionable lessons for turning personal pain points into profitable ventures.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Identifying the Problem Parents Face When Traveling

[00:30 – 01:51]

• Travis highlights the hassle parents endure when having to carry bulky car seats on trips, especially just for brief rides from airports.
• Nelson describes observing this firsthand as an Uber driver—the lack of child car seat accommodations in rideshare/taxi services.

Travis: “Traveling with kids is already… stressful and difficult enough… and then it's like, oh, we gotta lug these awkward ass big car seats with us… just so we can get to the Airbnb… it is just mind-numbing.” [01:53]

2. Nelson’s Unconventional Entrepreneurial Background

[02:49 – 04:33]

• Nelson was a full-time Uber driver, having switched from real estate development after the 2008 crash.
• He previously drove yellow taxis, which he describes as “the best job I’ve ever had.” [04:33]

Nelson: "I was a professional entrepreneur. I just kept failing… [after 2008] lost everything actually… started driving a yellow taxi in New York City, which is by far… the best job I’ve ever had.” [04:04]

3. The Genesis and Scrappy Birth of Kid Moto

[05:16 – 07:30]

• Nelson admits limited experience in tech and business-building, but emphasizes iterative business planning—repurposing a business plan he’d been working on for other ventures.
• The initial Kid Moto setup was frugal: “It was me… like five or six hundred bucks, two car seats. I couldn’t even afford three car seats.” [07:34]
• Early customers found Kid Moto online via digital marketing strategies Nelson taught himself.

4. Marketing & Relentless Work Ethic

[08:24 – 09:07]

• Nelson targeted his market through digital channels, learning and deploying 40–50 digital marketing strategies.
• He recounts the early days as a “war,” involving relentless daily grind: up at 3:45am, working until midnight, “first one in, last one out.”
• Stresses the necessity of perseverance:

Nelson: “You just have to be relentless with it… you gotta want it.” [09:07]

5. Geographic Expansion & Scaling Challenges

[10:05 – 13:56]

• Started in NYC, used a sports-team-inspired expansion strategy: “I think it was based on football teams… New York City, Philadelphia, Washington D.C.… NFC East.” [10:47]
• Scaling to other cities required educating both customers (parents) and drivers, a process Nelson describes as “excruciatingly painful,” due to the industry’s avoidance of car seat services and focus on corporate clients.

Nelson: “The entire industry… frayed away from car seats… I was built out for children, car seats, that’s all we did.” [12:17]

• Recruiting drivers wasn’t about poaching Uber drivers—Nelson sought out regulated chauffeur companies for safety and consistency.

6. Business Model & Differentiation

[13:56 – 14:44]

• Kid Moto positions itself as a premium service; drivers earn more than standard ride-share.
• Main pitch: “You’ll make more, and you’re probably not picking up drunk at 2 in the morning… you’re picking up families from the airport.” [14:29]
• Early years highlighted by skepticism from drivers and industry peers.

7. Vision, Adaptability & Future Growth

[15:34 – 16:49]

• Kid Moto today: 84 cities globally, seven-figure revenue, $25M valuation.
• Nelson hints at new product offerings and leveraging their international infrastructure: “Who knows what we might end up being, because Nokia started out as a tire company, right?” [16:18]

Nelson: “We have the infrastructure, which is the most important… like Uber in Uber Eats, Uber Freight… a plethora of different things.” [16:39]

8. The Real Meaning of Entrepreneurial Success

[17:00 – 18:24]

• Travis and Nelson agree: fulfillment comes from solving problems with real impact, not just chasing exits or money.

Travis: “That’s the solve… can you create a lifestyle where… you’re excited to tackle the day, even if the day brings you lots of problems… that’s the solve.” [17:17]

Nelson: “When you’re happy and you love what you’re doing… I just love what I’m doing.” [18:15]

9. Personal Background & Lessons Learned

[18:48 – 19:30]

• Nelson did not attend business school—learned through hustle and studying design, construction, and cultural anthropology.
• Shares a memorable piece of advice from a professor: “Shoot for the stars because if you land on the moon, it’s not a bad place to be.” [19:30]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the everyday pain parents face:

  “Traveling with kids is already like, stressful and difficult enough… and then it's like, oh, we gotta lug these awkward ass big car seats with us... it's just mind numbing.”
  — Travis [01:53]

• On relentless hustle:

  “You just have to be relentless with it and just… you gotta want it. You have to want it.”
  — Nelson [09:07]

• On industry skepticism:

  “Me going to a company with a different niche, they’re like… car seats? Are you kidding me?”
  — Nelson [12:34]

• On real success:

  “The bright side of entrepreneurship… you were experiencing a problem, saw the problem, came up with a solution, worked your ass off… and now you have a company that allows you to do what you enjoy for a living… that’s the solve.”
  — Travis [17:17]

• On ambition:

  “Shoot for the stars because if you land on the moon, it’s not a bad place to be.”
  — Nelson [19:30] (quoting his professor)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:53] — Travis and Nelson discuss the initial pain point: Why is traveling with kids so hard?
• [04:04] — Nelson details his background and repeated failures, from real estate to cabs to Uber.
• [07:34] — The scrappy Kid Moto launch: two car seats, one driver (Nelson), almost no startup capital.
• [09:07] — Relentless work ethic; the war stories and daily grind of entrepreneurship.
• [10:47] — Expanding Kid Moto: starting with New York and neighboring cities.
• [12:17] — Industry resistance and why the service focus had to be unique.
• [14:29] — Creating a better experience (and pay) for drivers compared to Uber/Lyft.
• [16:18] — Future vision: international infrastructure, new services beyond car seats.
• [17:17] — Fulfillment comes from meaningful work, not just business growth.

Resources & Follow-up

• Learn more / Book a ride: kidmoto.taxi
• Connect with Nelson: LinkedIn: Nelson Nigel
• Host: Travis Chappell

Tone & Takeaways

The episode is practical, candid, and motivating. Travis and Nelson keep the conversation honest about failures, grind, and the gritty realities of entrepreneurship—underscoring that you don't need a Silicon Valley pedigree to start something impactful. The focus is always on creating value, being adaptable, and waking up energized for the work, even if success comes after years of persistence and reinvention.

This summary captures the journey and actionable mindset shifts for anyone inspired to solve real problems and make money on their own terms.