"Do You Want Some Space?" Startup Boxit Offers Up Solutions For Your Storage Needs Boxit can't provide the emotional space the title might suggest, but the company can, however, connect people seeking extra storage space with credible logistic companies with just the click of a button.
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Boxit can't provide the emotional space the title might suggest, but the company can, however, connect people seeking extra storage space with credible logistic companies with just the click of a button. Simply put, Boxit lets users order a number of boxes as needed, pick it up, and provide you with a visual online catalog of your stored items with an iOS mobile app to manage your storage (and yes, an Android version is in the works).
Though there are self-storage companies in the region, Boxit asserts that its USP is enabling customers manage their things digitally and only pay for space they use, while utilizing the existing infrastructure of reputable warehouses and delivery partners. Looking to address the needs of longtime GCC residents, founder and CEO Premlal Pullisserry says that "people sometimes refrain from buying things they really need because of the lack of space, and because they don't know where to store the things they rarely use. We hope to help users in owning anything, without worrying where to store them!"
This feeling seems to have resonated well, given that the startup has caught the attention of angel investor Sabah Al Bader from whom they received "almost US$100,000" in angel funding, as well as InfoFort CEO Abed Shaheen and Aramex M&A Director Nader Museitif joining Boxit's board as strategic advisors. The startup also has a few notable recognitions from the ecosystem: it was winner of the Kuwait edition of Startup MENA's GCC Pitch Challenge 2015, winner of the Kuwait edition of the South Summit 2015, grand champion for Dubai Smart City App Hack 2015 and first runnerup at Seedstars World's Dubai 2015 round.
Boxit was started by three founders: CEO Premlal Pullisserry, VP of Operations Abraham Thomas and VP of Sales Joby Matthew- between the three, their backgrounds include logistics, corporate business development, telecom, technology, and operations. The Kuwait-based startup was launched in February of last year with pre-bookings, partnering with Sirdab, an accelerator that Pullisserry regards has helped them connect to the tech community and early adopters, with investor Al Bader assisting them in settling legalities.
In the startup's early days, Pullisserry says the team adopted the lean startup approach, starting with oneon-one surveys with people in communities (even shopping malls) to determine whether a market for the service exists. With enough data, a landing page was set up explaining the idea and a form to request pre-booking. "The response was really encouraging, and then we started developing an MVP of our mobile app and shared it with the registered users to try using it." Pullisserry adds that after collecting feedback, the team began developing a full-fledged application, and then launching its iOS and web version.
It's interesting to note that Boxit didn't start out as it is and actually pivoted from its operational end, with the original idea being about building or renting large spaces to convert to warehouses to store customers' items. That approach, according to Pullisserry, would have been extremely capital-intensive, and that would have "only incrementally innovated the traditional industry, rather than disrupt it," adding that in the team's search for a facility, they found logistics and warehouses companies such as Aramex had surplus spaces.
It was then when the team came up with a new idea of focusing Boxit to be a platform in connecting users to storage facilities. "Customers get world class storage facilities to store their personal items at an affordable cost -which was not available to them earlier- and the warehouse companies get extra revenue for their otherwise unused space."
Boxit sees itself as "the future of on-demand personal storage," with a subscription-based model. Charging a monthly rental fee per box as its business model, it aims to simplify the process while making storage costefficient, by forgoing the traditional route of renting storage rooms on a monthly basis, and having to pay for it, regardless of whether it were full or not.
The platform positions itself between consumers and facilities, instead of providing the selfstorage spaces themselves, allowing the startup to scale quickly, focus on user experience, maintain a lean team, develop the user-friendly platform, and improve its services.
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Marketing-wise, word of mouth has thus far been its go-to modus operandi, while with online efforts, they've started with marketing and social media campaigns. Offline, Boxit is targeting companies in Kuwait such as professional associations, and attending local community startup events to share its services.
What's next? The Boxit team is seeking funding for its expansion to UAE, KSA and eventually other MENA markets- Pullisserry proposes the team has more features and ideas up its sleeve for Boxit's progress, and encourages the rest of us to keep an eye out for developments.
THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: BOXIT TALKS BACK
CHOOSING AN INVESTOR
"I think the most important factor is to understand the value the investor is going to bring to your startup. Money comes second, really! Determine the value the investors bring to your startup, including the depth of knowledge this person has of your industry. Determine how well connected they are within the industry, and how much potential to support you there is in raising the next round of funding, and finally, funds."
LESSONS IN STARTING A COMPANY
"I would say that finding the right mentors were our biggest struggle. We learned that the earlier you have great mentors, the easier your life will be. Our region can be a difficult and challenging market in terms of legalities and funding options, but, if you manage to find the right mentors, you will see how things will fall in place quite efficiently."
MENTORS
"Abed [Shaheed, CEO of InfoFort] and Nader [Museitif, M&A Director of Aramex] are our main mentors, apart from a few more individuals. They have helped us in many key areas. Right from strengthening our belief in the platform model, refining our operations, and helping us connect with the right partners to restructuring Boxit's legal entity to be more fundable now! They have also helped us connect with some of our key vendors such as online payment providers, top lawyers, and online marketers and also helped us create a marketing and growth plan."
PARTNERSHIPS
"We have signed a warehousing agreement with Aramex Kuwait. This will enable us to store all our customers' boxes at Aramex's world class warehouses, which has the best in class security and safety measures. Now, we do not have to worry about high quality storage space, as Aramex can offer as much space as we need."
CHOOSING A STARTUP ACCELERATOR
"It really all depends on the value the accelerator would bring in. I don't think there is a right answer for this and it greatly varies from one market to another. I think, a founder [should] look at the mentoring community available with the accelerator, the range and depth of their network, and the recognition a startup gets by choosing a particular accelerator. In our market, we should also consider the infrastructure they have built- how much do you save by choosing a particular accelerator? What sorts of legal support does the accelerator provide, and again at what cost?"
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