Freeedrive’s addresses today’s main cause for car accidents: TEXTING WHILE DRIVING. This represents nowadays 23%.The application prevents disturbing smartphone notifications as well the use of unauthorized applications while driving, allowing the car driver to focus on the road instead of his phone screen.Not only is it obviously expected to save numerous lives and avoid injuries, but it will have a significant collateral benefit by causing a paradigm change in the professional fleet management industry.
It is expected that using Freeedrive will induce annual savings on car insurances that are estimated to be in the range of 25k€/year for 100 vehicles. It also supports employers’ requirement under the ISO 45001 norm on Occupational Health and Safety and mitigate the reputational risk in case of accidents or dangerous driving with a branded car.
Problem
Texting while driving causes 1.6 million casualties each year in Europe
Driving safely has always been a priority for the community, as this was evidenced over the many years by the numerous and vast security campaigns supported by all governments across the World. Many of the known causes for car accidents have been identified and addressed with a reasonable success and the number of casualties has been on the decline until recently. However, with the emergence of smartphones this trend is now reversing, and according to studies, texting while driving is becoming the number 1 cause for car accidents, over-passing alcohol. It was demonstrated that it delays drivers reactions by a factor of 3 (+37%) compared to alcohol consumption (+13%), by a factor of 1.5 compared to cannabis smoking, and texting drivers are thus 23 times more likely to have an accident than those purely focused on driving. It represents ca.25% of the accidents in the USA, and a staggering 1.6mio casualties in Europe, more than 500,000 injured and 6,000 deaths. Consciousness is not even emerging, 55% of young adult drivers pretend it’s easy to text and pay attention to driving at the same time. 49% of commuters admit to text regularly while driving. These figures are based on US & European studies. Many websites report them. A good summary is available here: https://www.burnetteinsurance.com/2015/08/03/so-you-think-you-are-good-at-texting-while-driving-think-again-video/
Main concerns of fleet managers?
1. Fleet safety
2. Cost management
A study performed in March 2015 by E Malacarne reports that fleet managers are mostly worried by their fleet safety and managing their fleet costs. Communicating with their drivers and managing the ecological footprint arrive respectively in 3rd and 4th positions. Freeedrive do tackle the Nr 1 & Nr 2 concerns with the features included in the 1st release. http://www.transpoco.com/blog/2015/03/06/the-top-worries-of-a-fleet-manager/
Solution
Avoid 23% of car accidents and save 25k€/y for a fleet of 100 vehicles
Freeedrive’s value proposition is the following: as soon as a driver steps into his car, the application will automatically connect to the vehicle via Bluetooth and blocks all distracting apps and notifications. Thereby: no more texting while driving but remaining connected & productive via bluetooth
Installation and usage is straightforward:
· Set up: the fleet manager defines what type of applications may be used or not while driving
· Deployment: Freeedrive is downloaded to all drivers smartphone. Each driver registers his ID and car number plate.
· Freedrive is automatically started as the Bluetooth connects to the car.
· Only critical information is registered as an evidence of safe usage. Irregularities trigeer reminders to drive safely.
· Certified reports are available in near real time. Partnering insurance companies will be able to offer rebates based on the reported fleet profile and the use of Freeedrive.
Intellectual Property
Freeedrive doesn’t intend to patent its application, but will rather (i) deposit its source code to demonstrate anteriority and (ii) take advantage of its first mover advantage by becoming the chosen security expert of its distribution partners to quickly gain marker share and erect barriers to entry.The algorithm for the IOS version is quite sophisticated to mimic the Android version. The know-how behind it is part of Freeedrive. Team’s focus has been set on market validation and business requirement writing. Patents, protections & proprietary filing will be investigated later
Major contracts
End 2015, the status is a clear customer validation of the functionalities, interface and technology. Although not yet operational, Freeedrive has a signed 2 letters of intent with 2 leasing companies active in Luxembourg and Belgium. Those may be turned later into formal agreement subsequent to the development of the application.
In addition, Freeedrive concluded a service agreement with its parent company, Barefoot SA/NV. This agreement set out that Barefoot will provide the human resources, equipment and its work spaces and any other service to Freeedrive against a monthly remuneration (as far as a certain breakeven point is reached).
Main partners
Letters of Intent: Toyota Belgium & Leaseplan Luxembourg
Strategy
| Revenue strategy |
The revenue drivers are 3-fold We aim at getting 9% of the core market: leased cars. |
| Marketing strategy |
The immediate benefit of playing in the B2B market is the simplicity of marketing where professionals address professionals directly. No need for expensive advertising campaigns. No far stretched critical to reach before breaking even. |
| Distribution strategy |
Freeedrive operates on a B2B market where the number of players, corporate fleets is segmented and clearly identified. |
| Internationalization strategy |
International expansion will be a no-brainer following the distribution strategy that Freeedrive is developing. All partners, be they leasing or insurance companies, have a large international foothold. A successful partnership at the national level will build immediate credibility on such market, and a then well-established relationship at the local level will obviously open doors with other national entities across Europe, and beyond over a period of time. |
Freeedrive prevents the 1st cause of car accidents: texting while driving
Freeedrive’s addresses today’s main cause for car accidents: TEXTING WHILE DRIVING.
Youtube: https://youtu.be/jhjw1zDU5Zw, https://youtu.be/ciLgCQobpXg
See Campaign: https://www.mymicroinvest.com/en/financings/96-freeedrive?xp=default_note5&utm_expid=50682950-5.RhAqKYmFRKefNBPmsA4Xeg.1&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mymicroinvest.com%2Fen%2Ffinancings
Contact Information:
Augustin van Rijckevorsel
Tags:
MyMicroInvest, Consumer, Cars, Equity, Men, Women, Belgium, English, Automotive, Other passenger vehicles, European Union, Computers and Software, Mobile and Social Apps, Trucks, Industry verticals, Regions, Types of Crowdfunding deal, Language
Source: icnw