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E-mobility is the future, that much is clear. But for electric cars to really become the norm, they need the right charging infrastructure. Although there are already a large number of charging stations in Austria, much more is needed to really make e-mobility the norm. The Upper Austrian start-up RentMyWallbox has found a solution for this. The young company is developing an electronic platform that enables private individuals with their own charging station to rent it out easily. The company is supported by tech2b, the Upper Austrian high-tech incubator.
RentMyWallbox offers smart charging station use
Umut Kaya is CEO and co-founder of RentMyWallbox. He explains why he decided to set up the company. "A former colleague once complained to me about how complicated it was to charge his hybrid vehicle and process the billing. It is unacceptable for a company not to automate this process. That left an impression on me, and I've always been interested in electric cars. I launched RentMyWallbox so that private individuals and companies can rent out their charging stations smartly. This will make the e-charging infrastructure much stronger," says Kaya.
RentMyWallbox customers already have the necessary hardware with their charging stations. The young company only provides the software. The wallbox only needs to be online-capable. Customers have to register and enter certain key data, after which they can connect their wallbox to their own interface and switch it online. It should soon be possible to lock and unlock the station via an app.
tech2b brings invaluable know-how
RentMyWallbox operates a "software as a service" model in which the charge is measured in kilowatt hours. The startup receives a percentage of the revenue that customers generate by renting out their boxes.
tech2b was very important for the start-up, according to Umut Kaya. "At the beginning, I had no idea how many aspects we had to consider. But then tech2b turned out to be the ideal place to go. We applied there and made a promotional video for the first time. We were then able to choose our own mentors with recommendations from tech2b. We found exactly the person we needed here: She came from the e-mobility industry and brought invaluable know-how with her. We really defined our business model with tech2b and learned in three months what we otherwise wouldn't have learned in a year," enthuses Kaya.
Start-up center supports GreenTech start-ups
According to Clemens Zillner, start-up consultant at tech2b, RentMyWallbox is a good fit for the start-up center, especially because it is a GreenTech start-up from Upper Austria. "We focus strongly on start-ups that directly or indirectly pursue environmental and climate goals and are founded in Upper Austria. We also offer them financial subsidies that are based on the degree of progress made during the start-up process, among other things," says the consultant.
In addition to coaching, tech2b also offers advice on topics relevant to start-ups, as well as mentoring, infrastructure and further training. According to Zillner, these consultations already include awareness-raising for sustainability. The start-up center also offers rapid networking with existing companies that also focus on sustainability. "Right from the start, founders need to think about the three pillars of sustainability: economy, ecology and social issues. They need to consider how they can integrate government climate targets into their company goals," recommends Zillner.
Young companies must internalize sustainability
Sustainability must determine the supply chain, for example. Start-ups need to ask themselves where their raw materials come from and whether they can work with regional partners. The CO2 footprint must also be taken into account. Even the infrastructure, such as the office and whether new or used computers are used there, is relevant here. "The most important thing, however, is that the startups have a sustainable purpose. Founders need to think about what purpose their company fulfills. It shouldn't just be about economic success, but also about creating value for society. Startups must also communicate this to the outside world," says Zillner.
RentMyWallbox meets these sustainable requirements, which is why Zillner hopes that the start-up center will accompany the young company for a long time to come. Of course, building a successful start-up still requires hard work, even with the help of business incubators. "The process is actually as difficult as it is portrayed in the media. My two co-founders and I are currently still working full-time and running our company in our spare time. That means an enormous amount of effort for us, but as the saying goes: no pain, no gain."
Founders need to get help
Umut Kaya advises anyone who wants to set up a business to get help in any case. "There are many offers in Upper Austria alone. An application can't do any harm, because it's an important opportunity to challenge your own idea and put it to the test. This is the only way to get a clear picture of whether you are on the right track. And then you also know whether it's worth putting in all the necessary work." RentMyWallbox plans to launch its platform with its first test customers soon. The long-term goal is to bring smart charging into the mainstream.
