It’s not about ownership, it’s about access, network and trust!

 

* Screenshot by stylistberlin

 

whyown.it is one of the startups I had an eye on since the very first beginning, as it was the new project by Philipp Gloeckler, who is a leader in Germany for sustainable lifestyle-related projects and products.

Philipp Gloeckler being a graduate from EBS (European Business School), I must admit that at first I was reluctant to believe he was standing 100% behind his sustainability-related projects like careordie, carrotmob, avocadostore.de etc. When he told me about selling all his stuff to live out of only two suitcases a couple of years ago, I was impressed for the first time. I even tried to copy that: and failed. Alone my books would fill more than two suitcases … *sigh*

Now he launched the beta-version of a new platform: whyown.it.

 

DESCRIPTION: whyown.it is a platform for collaborative consumption. At the moment it is available as iPhone/iPad app and connects your facebook friends. You can see what they possess and use whyown.it to borrow it. There is a point system integrated, so you get rewarded for “borrowing” things of your friends instead of “buying” them. For a certain amount of points, you get goodies, like coupons etc.

 

Interview: Philipp Gloeckler (whyown.it, founder)

 

* Picture by stylistberlin on EyEm. All rights reserved.

 

whyown.it is an app for iPad and iPhone in beta testing. How does the whyown.it app work?

With this app you can see what possessions your friends have, which are offered to use. At the moment we have all kinds of offers, from books to even dogs. Only children are missing (he laughs).

For example, if you borrow 10 DVDs, you get a coupon for a brand new DVD, to name an example. We are looking for different mechanisms at the moment to try to reduce consuming and reward the users.

My goal is to live out of two suitcases in the end and with help of whyown.it only.

 

 

I remember you sold almost all your belongings a few years ago on eBay.

Yeah, I almost sold everything and I actually have a bit more than two suitcases left. But I really don’t own much any more.

 

 

Do you dress in fair trade clothes only?

Let’s see. Yeah, pretty much. Everything I wear at the moment is fair trade clothing. Except for the socks. Those are really hard to get as fair trade products!

 

 

Why did you chose the European Business School, that is notorious for breeding elites in the management sector and is said to be a cradle for money-oriented entrepreneurs?

I did not know what kind of institution it was until I went there. (*laughs*)

 

 

It would be interesting how you live your life. What is your motto?

“Live the day.”

If you work year after year for a long time, you might end up with loads of money in the end. But at that point, you might spend it all on your damaged health, due to all the work you have had. I don’t want to end up at that point.

For a quality life, I think it is important and I am blessed to have a good education, good friends.

“Live the day.” 

I also realized everything you possess can vanish as quickly as it came to you. It does not matter if it is an apartment or a car… So I try to let go of most possessions.

 

 

How does your normal day look like?

I wake up every day even before my alarm clock rings. This way feels really good. I can do so many things during the day.  If you don’t get up early in the morning, change it.

If you don’t get up early in the morning, change it. 

 

 

Where do you see yourself in five and ten years from now?

 I could imagine myself changing locations every two years.

In a constant process of change, I guess. I could imagine myself changing locations every two years. I grew up in Brussels where life was always turning round and round in private and regarding jobs, as there were always a lot of diplomats with their families. So I am used to changes.

I do have an urge for freedom, to live freely. I do not want to live in a metropole where you can get shot on the streets. In Berlin, I would love to renovate a whole fabric floor myself and live there.

I do have a urge for freedom, to live freely.

 

 

Your advice for entrepreneurs in spe?

When starting your own business, I would say: the earlier the better. It goes with less risks if you start early. After the bachelor degree, you can easily go for a master´s degree for two more years. But you can also try your own business and then go to grad school and then look for new opportunities. Maybe finding a suitable work after a long time of education might be difficult. On the other hand, maybe you realize you are more into working at a big company after all, who knows? You have to try it out. I’m just saying, the sooner, the better.

What is essential:

It is really important HOW you get an idea for a business. Don’t sit there and wait for the great idea for a startup or company to come to you. You need freedom to be creative. You cannot be that if you force yourself to come up with a brilliant business idea. The idea has to come to you.

Don’t sit there and wait for the great idea for a startup or company to come to you. You need freedom to be creative.

 

avocadostore.de took a year of process to be formed. whyown.it took three weeks. The idea came up during a surfing-vacation. From all what I had learned before, to solve a personal problem.

If you want to found something, you need ideas that come from inspiration. Many people only think about “the big exit” afterwards and they simply clone business models and work towards that exit. The work will always be linked to doubts whether it is the right choice or not. You will fail in the end.

1) The business will never be that successful.

2) Your motivation to work at the business will reach point zero after three months only.

For me, founding whyown.it was for solving a problem I had. That is the reason why the business is cool to work at for me. I think the products available at avocadostore.de are also very cool.

I love the idea that through whyown.it, you learn a lot more things about the people you are linked to via social media. For example, while testing the app, I learned that my friend A plays the piano. B can chop trees. And another friend C likes the same music as I do, which I did not notice beforehand. You interact a lot more with your friends on a different level, that is very exciting.

 You interact a lot more with your friends on a different level, that is very exciting.

 

 

You did a lot of projects after graduation. What did your parents think about all of it so far?

They thought I was doing sh-t until now. They would have rather seen me at a DAX company after graduating from EBS, because it would have been the best choice in their eyes, something safe.

But now they are getting interested in my work and are kind of proud of me as well. My father has even installed whatsapp and my mother got her first smartphone.

 

 

What are your plans for whyown.it?

At the end of the year (2012), I want to be in the States with this, at Silicon Valley.

 

 

Editor’s note:

The app is currently only available for iPhone clients, an Android version will follow up.

Sign up to become a business evangelist: http://www.whyown.it

 

PS. Personal note to Philipp Gloeckler

Dear Phil,

I am very sorry that your brainsparent/careordie-office goldfish that I inherited when you left the co-working office died during my short trip to Paris. I took responsibility and gave away all my fish including the aquarium.

Wish you all the best for this great idea and please come up with an Android app asap.

“… because the ones who are crazy enough to think, that they can change the world are actually the ones who do”

xx

yuna

 

For more information:

whyown.it on vimeo: http://vimeo.com/whyownit

Interview on Venture Village EU: http://venturevillage.eu/whyownit-philipp-gloeckler

Deutsche Startups: http://www.deutsche-startups.de/2012/06/26/whyown-it-leihen