Dynamo Team #8: Skydrop
(EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the eighth in a series of articles profiling the teams participating in the Lamp Post Group’s inaugural Dynamo logistics accelerator. We asked each team to respond to a series of questions. The 10 teams will pitch their ideas at 10 a.m. tomorrow(October 4) during a “Demo Day” set for the Tivoli Theater, 709 Broad Street, Chattanooga. For more details, click here.)
Today’s profile is about Skydrop, a start-up based in Monterrey, Mexico that is focused on delivery services improvement.
Tell us about your team . . . names(s), background(s), experience, etc.
- Tavo Zambrano (Chief Executive Officer) – Created one of the biggest ordering online platforms in Latin America: three countries, 30 employees, $1 million in funding, exited in 2014 with sale to Delivery Hero.
- Arnoldo Colin (Chief Technology Officer) – Created the Ticket Master of Mexico (Boletia.com) which raised $2 million USD and is currently profitable.
- Armando Solbes (Chief Financial Officer) – Worked 4 years at Ernst & Young.
Describe the focus of your start-up and the logistics problem you are trying to address. A marketplace that connects businesses with independent delivery boys for the delivery of their products locally on same day or on-demand. You can say we’re the Uber of delivering products for businesses.
How did the idea to start the company originate? What was the catalyst? During 2010-2014, Zambrano built one of the biggest food ordering online platforms in Latin America. Having processed hundreds of thousands of deliveries, there was one huge problem he noticed: “on-demand delivery sucks.” Not only (did) it suck, it was affecting his company and the whole restaurant industry growth. Eighty-five percent of its users churn was due to Deliveries not on time and “that wasn’t even our job.” We just connected users with restaurants, but still it affected us so we talked to restaurants to understand the problem. That was the catalyst.
What was the impetus for applying to participate in Dynamo? Dynamo knows everything about logistics. That was the reason we applied, because of all the value, mentorship and connections specifically in that market.
What has been the greatest value the program has provided thus far? Mentorship and working alongside awesome companies. You start learning from everybody.
What do you expect to accomplish by Demo Day and what happens after October 4? Maintain sustainable growth, meet investors and raise a good round to win the market.
