Ten years ago, the idea for MyPup was born - an innovative solution for a growing problem in the world of online shopping. In this blog, the founders Luke, Martijn, and Dennis share their story, from the company’s inception to its current developments and future vision. What were the key moments in the evolution of MyPup, and how do the founders look back and forward?
The creation of MyPup
How did the idea for MyPup come about? Luke: The idea for MyPup arose as a result of the growing demand for parcel delivery. Online orders were no longer allowed to be received at work because receptions and mailrooms were overwhelmed with employees' personal parcels. Martijn and I developed this idea further. After market research, MyPup was born with a homemade logo and a minimal viable product version. Then, we needed a technical person to build the logistics platform. That’s where Dennis came in.
Martijn: We wanted to start building once we had a customer. That first customer was KLM. After that, we got in touch with suppliers to actually realize our product. Interestingly, we still work with most of those suppliers today.
First clients and growth
What were the biggest challenges in the early stages? Martijn: In the early stages, we funded everything from our savings and without a salary. We started with one pick-up point and grew to eight before attracting investors, which gave us the opportunity to further develop our product. After KLM, other large companies like Deloitte, the WTC, and ABN AMRO followed.
Luke: It was intense and really hands-on. The customer service line was forwarded to our mobile phones, meaning we were getting calls on Sunday mornings from a KLM flight attendant because a locker wouldn’t open, and we’d jump in the car.
From offices to residential buildings
When did you first take steps into residential buildings?
Martijn: That started with Campus Diemen Zuid, where 1,200 students lived. There was a big problem with parcels, and they were really happy with our solution. It was a challenging step because it meant weekend deliveries, and residential buildings were new ground for us.
Covid, working from home, and a future-proof model for parcel delivery
Did the pandemic shift your focus? Luke: The pandemic accelerated the transition to residential. Working from home became the norm, increasing the demand for parcel solutions in residential complexes.
Martijn: Many companies stayed loyal, but some partnerships were paused. This forced us to rethink our strategy and focus on apartment buildings, with sustainability becoming a key focus.
Luke: We thought, if we’re going to do this, we have to do it right. We started to focus more on effectively and efficiently managing parcel flows, consolidating deliveries, and reducing our ecological footprint.
Customer focus and innovation
How have you integrated customer feedback into your business model? Dennis: By listening closely to our customers, we developed our consolidation model. This started with bundling parcels for KLM and grew into the foundation of our strategy. We don’t want to be just another parcel service, but a full-service solution.
Martijn: And we’ve succeeded in doing that.
Competition and MyPup’s unique model
How does MyPup differentiate itself from other providers?
Martijn: Our focus on consolidation is truly unique. Other providers operate individually, but we consolidate parcels from all carriers, making delivery much more efficient. We not only operate 100% emission-free but also significantly reduce the number of transport movements. We go above and beyond for residents to ensure they always receive their parcels on the same day. Our customer service and customer success team are always ready to assist residents with any questions and requests.
Luke: By collaborating with various parties, we can offer a much more efficient model and really make a difference.
"Our focus on consolidation is truly unique. Other providers
operate independently, but we combine parcels from all
carriers, making delivery much more efficient."
Company culture
What defines the company culture at MyPup?
Luke: Our culture is open and accessible. We place a high value on collaboration and loyalty. It’s great to see customers staying with us and that we continue to expand our customer base.
Martijn: We’re proud of how we’ve grown and that we’re now the market leader in the Netherlands. With B Corp status and nearly all major institutional investors as clients, we also have employees who have been with us for over 10 years, which says a lot about our company culture and what kind of employer we are. We’re proud of that.
The development of employees
How does your culture contribute to employee development?
Luke: Our company culture offers a lot of room for personal growth. We have a mix of young talent and experienced employees, and that combination makes for a dynamic team. We believe it’s important that employees feel valued and have the opportunity to develop their skills.
Martijn: And we make time for sports and fun because that makes the work a lot more enjoyable. We regularly have team outings and drinks, which helps strengthen the bond between everyone.
MyPup now
Where do you stand now? Martijn: In ten years, we’ve grown gradually, but we’re now a company with nearly 30 full-time employees, more than 500 clients, and over 100,000 users.
Dennis: Actually, it’s 126,000.
Luke: And this year, we added Parzelo to that, which we’re also proud of.
Parzelo
Can you tell us about Parzelo? Dennis: Parzelo is a new sister company of MyPup that focuses on streamlining companies' internal logistics processes. We founded this company with the aim of helping organizations make their logistics more efficient.
MyPup essentially ‘uses’ Parzelo’s software to further optimize our operational processes. Parzelo provides tools that help companies manage their internal logistics, such as inventory management, tracking shipments, and coordinating deliveries.
By integrating our software, we can help companies work
more efficiently, saving both time and costs."
Luke: What’s great is that Parzelo not only complements our existing services but also offers a standalone solution for companies looking to improve their internal processes. We’ve seen that by integrating our software, we can help companies work more efficiently and save both time and costs.
Dennis: Our focus is on innovation and creating value for both MyPup and our clients. Parzelo is really a step forward in optimizing the logistics chain, and we’re excited about the possibilities this brings for the future.
Vision for the future
What are the ambitions for the coming years?
Martijn: We want not only to grow in the Netherlands but also to be recognized as the go-to solution in the construction and development sector. We are focused on expanding to other European cities, as we recently did in Dublin and Copenhagen.
Luke: We aim to have a significant percentage of newly completed buildings using MyPup. In addition to project developers and building managers, we also want to work with municipalities to offer our service in existing neighbourhoods.
Sustainability is becoming increasingly important to people, which increases their willingness to pay for sustainable solutions. We see a lot of potential for expansion into public spaces and existing neighbourhoods, but for now, the focus is on new residential projects.
“We see great potential for expansion in public spaces and
existing neighbourhoods, but for now, our focus remains on
new residential projects.”
Dennis: We’re considering pilots, like the one we had in Utrecht, possibly with a pay-per-use model.
Luke: In Utrecht, residents even submitted a petition to keep MyPup. This shows the demand for our solutions. We mainly offer indoor solutions but are open to outdoor parcel points if good options become available. This increases our impact and involves more people in sustainable logistics solutions.
Martijn: Innovation remains our driving force. We are continuously working on improving and expanding our services for the customers and residents who use MyPup.
Luke: It’s exciting to see how this will develop, but that’s also what makes it fun. We’re confident in MyPup’s growth, with a focus on sustainability, innovation, and strong collaboration with municipalities and project developers.
This interview was conducted in September 2024 to commemorate the tenth anniversary of MyPup.