L'INCROYABLE HISTOIRE DE BLABLACAR - STARTUP STORY #2

Summary

In this episode of 'Start-up Stories,' the host discusses the origin and growth of BlaBlaCar, founded by Frédéric Mazzella in 2003. Inspired by a lack of train tickets for his holiday trip, Frédéric envisioned a ride-sharing service. With help from his friend Damien, they developed the platform over two years, eventually launching it as Comuto in 2006. Through strategic marketing, including capitalizing on transportation strikes, BlaBlaCar grew rapidly. The video highlights major milestones such as funding rounds and international expansion, ending with over 70 million users worldwide.

Takeaways

• 🚗 The video introduces the second episode of 'Startup Stories' featuring BlaBlaCar's origin story.
• 🎄 The story begins in December 2003 when Frédéric Mazzella couldn't find a train ticket to travel home for the holidays, leading him to a key realization.
• 🚙 While riding with his sister on the highway, Frédéric noticed many cars traveling to the same destination with only one occupant, inspiring his idea for ride-sharing.
• 💡 Frédéric, with a background in Silicon Valley, saw the potential in creating a platform for people to share car journeys.
• 👨‍💻 Together with his friend Damien, Frédéric spent two years building the platform, working on it part-time outside of their main jobs.
• 🏫 Frédéric took a year off to pursue an MBA in marketing and communication, which helped expand his knowledge and promote the platform within his school.
• 📰 A key breakthrough came in 2007 when BlaBlaCar gained significant media attention by promoting the platform during a transportation strike.
• 🌋 The company continued using transport crises, such as the 2010 volcanic ash cloud, to gain more visibility and media attention.
• 💰 BlaBlaCar completed several successful funding rounds, including a major €100 million investment in 2014, boosting its growth.
• 🌍 By 2014, BlaBlaCar had over 10 million users and expanded globally, acquiring other companies and evolving into a ride-sharing giant with over 70 million users across 21 countries.

Q & A

What inspired Frédéric Mazzella to create BlaBlaCar?

Frédéric Mazzella was inspired to create BlaBlaCar when he was unable to find a train ticket to visit his family during the holidays. While driving with his sister, he noticed many cars on the highway with only one occupant. He realized that there were available seats in cars going in the same direction as the train and saw the potential for ride-sharing.

What challenges did Frédéric face when researching carpooling opportunities?

Frédéric found that while some users shared their travel plans on forums, it was nearly impossible to find someone going in the same direction at the same time. There was no centralized system to connect drivers and passengers efficiently.

How did Frédéric’s background in Silicon Valley influence the development of BlaBlaCar?

Frédéric had studied at Stanford and spent time in Silicon Valley during its rapid growth. His exposure to the tech world helped him recognize the immense potential in his idea for a ride-sharing platform.

Who helped Frédéric develop BlaBlaCar, and how did they start?

Frédéric’s friend Damien was one of the first to support his idea. The two began developing the platform in their spare time, working on it during evenings, weekends, and holidays for over two years.

Why did Frédéric decide to pursue an MBA in marketing and communication?

Frédéric realized that while he had a background in physics, he lacked expertise in communication and marketing. To better manage these aspects of the growing platform, he decided to pursue an MBA specializing in those fields.

How did BlaBlaCar gain traction during a major transportation disruption in 2007?

In 2007, during a major transportation strike, Frédéric and his team seized the opportunity by issuing a press release promoting BlaBlaCar as an alternative travel option. This move generated significant media attention and boosted the platform's visibility.

What was the key turning point for BlaBlaCar’s growth in 2010?

A key turning point was BlaBlaCar's response to the 2010 volcanic eruption that disrupted European air travel. A French bride, who couldn't fly to Italy for her wedding, was able to make the trip using BlaBlaCar, generating significant positive publicity for the platform.

How did BlaBlaCar expand internationally and increase its user base?

BlaBlaCar expanded internationally in 2011, starting with the UK, and raised multiple rounds of funding. By 2014, the platform had over 10 million users and had raised over €100 million to support further growth.

Why did Frédéric initially name the company ‘Comuto’ before renaming it BlaBlaCar?

The company was originally named ‘Comuto’ when it was founded in 2006. As the platform grew and gained more users, it was rebranded to BlaBlaCar in 2013, likely to reflect its core function of connecting drivers and passengers.

How did BlaBlaCar use strategic communication during transportation crises to grow?

BlaBlaCar consistently capitalized on transportation crises, such as strikes and natural disasters, to promote its platform as an alternative travel solution. By doing so, they gained media attention and increased user engagement at minimal cost.