No more empty vans on the road

Brenger links transport requests to unused space in vans that are already heading your way. Not only does this make shipping furniture and other large items inexpensive and easy, it has the potential to reduce Dutch CO2 emissions by 0.5%. By challenging their business case, helping entice investors and building a user-friendly platform, we helped the founders become the innovator of the transportation market.

In early 2016 we met Derk van der Have and Wisse de Groot, two ambitious young entrepreneurs with a great idea for a tech start-up but without technical knowledge or sufficient start-up capital. We therefore started a pitchdeck process in which we helped them in a number of sessions to further sharpen their idea, validate the business case and plot a roadmap.

The next step was to create a brand and a story. In several short iterations, we designed the brand, got the story clear, and designed the first screens of the platform we envisioned. With a powerful pitch deck under their belts, Derk and Wisse then went looking for potential investors. And with success because not much later they had the necessary capital for a minimum viable product.

On this, we started working in sprints on a platform that brought together demand (for the transport of furniture) and supply (of empty vans). But because supply and demand are not in balance everywhere in the Netherlands, we ensured national coverage through continuous optimization of the price calculation. An intelligent mailing system also ensures that deliverers are kept up to date on orders based on their frequently driven routes.

Continuous user research helped us keep improving the experience for clients and bringers. But behind the scenes, the platform also helps streamline internal processes. For example, a management and support dashboard helps Brenger provide good customer service or process payments correctly.

While many tech start-ups struggle with forming an effective development team, Brenger essentially brought in a CTO with an experienced team experienced with us right away. However, with the platform once a well-oiled machine and the underlying processes automated, it was time to take it in-house. To make that transition as smooth as possible, we helped find the right CTO. Once he or she had formed a team around him or her, we carefully and incrementally transferred the various components of the platform.

We are only too proud to have been able to guide our friends from those first steps to today's success and independence. For example, Brenger is the official transport partner of Marktplaats and BVA Auctions, among others. And with an average rating of 9.1, their users are also extremely satisfied. But perhaps the biggest gain is for all of us: Brenger managed to save over 3.6 million kg of CO2 emissions so far. And counting.