A New Generation Of Urban Delivery
In our series ‘Innovations Made in Berlin’, we present startups making a difference in their fields. Today, Fairsenden.
With the amount of goods being ordered online ever-increasing and customers expecting same or next day delivery, climate neutral logistics is hard to achieve. But Markus Schwarz’ startup Fairsenden is providing an alternative to market-dominating top dogs that small businesses can offer their users directly in their website checkout process.
Markus explains the concept in the Innovation Made in Berlin interview.
This series is called „Innovations made in Berlin“. What is your innovation? When did it originate, and where? Can you describe the place, and who was involved?
Emission free and bike-centric Smart City logistics require digitalization as well as a new set of paradigms for smooth operation and large-scale application. At Fairsenden, we’ve built a highly specialized IT system that balances all requirements to make eShopping more enjoyable again while keeping our cities safe and doing good for the environment. Back in 2019, after the IT had been developed, our first emission free deliveries started in Berlin.
What do you sell and why should someone buy it?
Fairsenden combines the IT system and the operations to provide eCommerce logistics for online as well as brick and mortar shops. The service comprises the pick-up at stores or central warehouses of shipments destined for consumers, the transport of the shipments, and the returns. All this is done using reusable boxes and pre-printed labels to combine smart consumer services with saving the environment. The personal hand-over is documented and customer-friendly. We experience that sending high-value goods and striving for eco-friendly, fast and customer-centric service is quite often the first touchpoint with our customers. Even outsourcing complete company fleets, while changing towards green logistics, are projects on the way for our customers.
How did you find funding for Fairsenden?
Fairsenden started off by bootstrapping the IT development. Much was done by the founder. In October 2021 we got the first private investors on board, who share our vision and goals. The personal network is a good way to find this kind of investor. But we are currently looking into screening the VCs for a good cultural fit.
“Think big and then take small steps to get there fast.”
What advice that you got at an early stage helped you the most while starting and growing your business in Berlin?
Think big and then take small steps to get there fast. If you fail while taking a small step, it does not hurt so much, and you are back on your feet much quicker for the next one.
How did you manage to establish contacts to potential clients?
Of course, the companies’ websites are a central element there. However, to my mind building personal relationships is in most cases the most relevant step to start off successfully.
What do you want to achieve in the next six months?
We want to scale the company in Germany and within the first neighboring countries. While doing that, we will improve the efficiency of our AI system and get the logistics operations on to the next level of scaling and automatization in order to reach high standards for our KPIs.
How do you find the right people to work with?
Most of the people we’ve taken on so far are long term former colleagues or come from that network. As a company providing this much purpose, the motivation is outstanding and easy to see in the people who apply at Fairsenden.
What is right now the biggest challenge for Fairsenden?
Scaling the company to get all the work done. The interest of our new clients is currently bigger than our capacity to serve them. So, we planned for the next level of scaling and are currently executing this.
“Berlin is a good place for innovation, to find the right people to make things happen, and to prepare for the international market.”
What is your reason why Berlin is the place to be?
I have been living in Berlin for 12 years now. It is a good place for innovation, to find the right people to make things happen, and to prepare for the international market. The availability of creativity and motivation is exceptional for startups. For me, it is the best city to found a startup within Germany.
What have you personally learned so far on this journey?
Be prepared for the unexpected.
Thank you Markus!
In the next few months we will be showcasing more Innovations Made in Berlin.
Interview: Olaf Bryan Wielk, ideenmanufaktur
Header image: © Fairsenden
