Aachen Alumni Develop New Mobility Service
"tamyca“ – is what the Aachen start up started in 2010 is called. The goal was to make mobility more sustainable and more efficient. The name "tamyca" stands for "take my car" and describes the concept of the young company in three words: private individuals, who seldom use their car, can register on the website for free and rent their car out to other private individuals.
Four young RWTH Aachen students developed the idea for tamyca in summer 2010. During the event "3Day Startup", 3DS, Michael Minis, an industrial engineer, Andreas Krüger, a software engineer, Markus Harmsen, also a software engineer, and Justus Lauten, a designer with computer science studies, came together and developed the concept and business modell for tamyca. At the time they asked themselves: Why are so many private cars sitting around unused and why can't others use these cars during this time? Subsequent to the startup event, the four decided to pursue their idea and make it become reality. The first version of the website www.tamyca.de was up after four days of work. It was Germany's first and biggest platform for carsharing among private individuals. Their idea garnered interest quickly - they had their finger on the pulse of the time: cars are expensive and must be financed. Why not rent out your own car and earn money by doing so?
With just a few clicks through the website, car owners can register their vehicle for free, set the desired rental price – and then car is already findable through the search. On the other side, users who do not have their own car, but would like to have access to one now and then, can also register for free on the website, find a suitable car, and request it. If the two parties are in agreement, a so-called "key moment" takes place - a rental. The keys are handed over in person, although the team is currently developing a technical solution, that would enable unlocking and locking via a smartphone. In order for both the renter and customer to be completely insured, tamyca protects both parties during every rental with a special additional insurance. Fully and partial comprehensive insurance, Europe wide breakdown service, liability insurance, and protection from fraud are always included in the price. In the meantime about 21000 users are registered with the platform and about 2500 cars are available in approximately 600 German cities.
The team has stayed true to Aachen, its "founding city", even though Germany's "founder capital" is Berlin. tamyca's office is in "Co:Forward", the business incubator in the Herzogenrath Technology Park. It profits from the good work environment and the exchange with mentors and other startups. The founding team has been in close contact with the RWTH Aachen Entrepreneurship Center since the beginning and has take advantage of some of the advising and coaching services of the Entrepreneurship Center. Good reasons for choosing Aachen as their headquarters.
The now ten person team has won various distinctions and prizes for its business concept:
- Finalist of the WirtschaftsWoche Entrepreneur Competition 2011
- Finalist and award winner of "Idea to Product Europe“
- Finalist and award winner of the AC² Business Plan Competition 2011
- Finalist 3 Day Start-Up 2010