Former GSEM student launches startup for eco-friendly, short-haul deliveries

oVo is the project of Olivier Starkenmann, a 2014 graduate of the GSEM's Bachelor program in Business Management, and two of his friends: Loïk Emery and Felipe Barakat. They wanted to provide a mobility solution for local delivery logistics and to promote short-haul routes.

While the number of deliveries has exploded in recent years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, oVo aims to decarbonize last mile logistics by gathering goods for delivery from their micro-depots on the outskirts of Geneva and using electric cargo bikes to make deliveries around the city using optimized routes.

"The idea came from Loïk, a friend I met at the University", explains Olivier Starkenmann. They wanted to set up a project together, aligned with their values and way of life, and which would be based in their hometown of Geneva. From this entrepreneurial journey, Olivier acknowledges the importance of working as a team, having aligned interests, and having unshakeable faith in the project, as crucial elements when facing difficulties.

"Since the beginning, our idea has received support as it is a project that speaks to people; the feedback is positive," he says. Having celebrated its first year of existence this summer, the startup is well on its way to improving urban life. The oVo team is also part of Smart Geneva, an initiative that brings together people to develop innovation, sustainability, and quality of life for all in Geneva.

> Discover oVo: https://ovo.earth