This SMART 100 profile and the information it contains is a duplication of content submitted by the applicant during the entry process. As a function of entry, applicants were required to declare that all details are factually correct, do not infringe on another’s intellectual property and are not unlawful, threatening, defamatory, invasive of privacy, obscene, or otherwise objectionable. Some profiles have been edited for reasons of space and clarity.
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1. THE BEGINNING
This innovation initially came to life when…
I meet regularly with computer scientists and app developers to learn about the latest tech so I can conceive of innovative ideas and methods. I’m able to let my imagination run wild while they make sure I remain inside the confines of reality. This idea was borne out of one of these sessions. The problem being addressed was congestion on city roads.
We wanted to make it possible to check-in to a mobile location, to check-in to a car in a ride share arrangement. Out of that evolved a provisional patent and an entire innovative service based app platform, CarCrowd.
2. WHAT & HOW
The purpose of this innovation is to…
CarCrowd matches people who share the same commute (departure and destination suburb). Matches can filter according to age and gender. This offers a more social ride share experience, facilitating ongoing relationships that strengthen community bonds while reducing congestion and emissions.
It does this by…
Users are sent a pool of matches after entering their commute information. They can filter these matches according to age and gender. Users can swipe through matches profile pictures on devices or scroll on computers.
Passengers pre-purchase CarCrowd tokens from CarCrowd which are automatically transferred to the driver every 5km. The average Australian car emits 1kg emissions every 5km.
3. PURPOSE & BENEFITS
This innovation improves on what came before because…
By providing a social platform we are specifically targeting the daily commute. No other ride share platforms have targeted this vertical before. By using digital currency we make it possible to integrate with government systems like OPAL and MYKI.
We have a patent pending on a unique check-in method that allows the passenger to check-in to a mobile location.
Its various benefits to the customer/end-user include…
Drivers can significantly reduce their costs and dilute their carbon output. Passengers enjoy greater commuter choice and commuter options. All parties can monitor the amount of carbon offsets being generated.
It also reduces congestion and emissions on city roads.
4. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
In the past, this problem was solved by…
In the past, commuters have only had two main choices when commuting to and from work – drive or catch public transport. 50 per cent of Australians who chose to drive say the do so due to lack of options (mccrindle).
We’ve developed a fun 21st century digital solution to a very old problem, offering commuters more choice and enhanced commuter convenience.
Its predecessors/competitors include…
The best known ride share platform is Uber. Uber successfully targeted the taxi vertical with a 21st century digital solution and they enjoy a market cap in excess of $40 billion. CarCrowd targets the daily commute vertical – not in competition with Uber.
5. TARGET MARKET
It is made for…
There are 500,000 car trips and 700,000 train trips in Sydney during the peak commutes every day. Our initial target market is 18-38 year old professionals in three carefully selected Sydney regions based on extensive market research.
Each zone is centered around only 2-3 major suburbs making it possible to conduct effective, targetted marketing campaigns. Zone 1 is the Mid North West, Zone 2 is the Mid West, and Zone 3 is the Mid South West. The number of targeted commuters is a minimum 100,000.
It is available for sale through…
The application will be a free download available in Australia via the iTunes App store or Google Play.
Our marketing strategy is to…
We have a robust network of partnerships including CEO and M2 magazines which have combined readership of over 500,000 in Australia and New Zealand.
We’ll undertake creative street marketing campaigns involving models and fun activities plus more conventional marketing techniques including billboards on arterial roads; bus adds; ads at train stations and bus stops; letter box drops and social media.
FINE PRINT: This SMART 100 profile and the information it contains is a duplication of content submitted by the applicant during the entry process. As a function of entry, applicants were required to declare that all details are factually correct, do not infringe on another’s intellectual property and are not unlawful, threatening, defamatory, invasive of privacy, obscene, or otherwise objectionable. Some profiles have been edited for reasons of space and clarity.
