GOWAGO: The Venture Leader Fintech providing car leasing solutions to Swiss drivers

07.11.2023 14:37, Rita Longobardi

Meet Rutger Verhoef, CEO of GOWAGO. The Zurich-based startup aims to create a future where mobility is both sustainable and efficient. The automotive fintech provides an intuitive platform that simplifies vehicle selection, financing, and management.

Name: Rutger Verhoef
Location: Zurich, Switzerland
Nationality: Netherlands
Graduated from: HEC Lausanne
Job title: CEO & Co-Founder
Number of employees: 45
Money raised: CHF 7 million






 

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Can you tell us who your product or solution helps, and how?
GOWAGO is making it easy for anyone to get a car leased or financed from the comfort of their own home. We make sure that the search is easy and the entire process is fast and efficient. Moreover, through a unique banking set-up and our proprietary technology to calculate residual values, we make the price affordable and fair. In short, our intuitive platform simplifies vehicle selection, financing, and management. But it’s more than just about cars; it’s about creating a future where mobility is both sustainable and efficient and where customers are central.

What market are you addressing and what is the potential of your startup in that market?
The market for digital car financing is growing quickly. Today, more than 60% of new cars are leased or financed and similar numbers are expected to spill over to the used car market. More and more brands are already selling directly to the client or in the process of building their agency model. All of these companies will need a state-of-the-art solution and that is exactly where GOWAGO comes in. We are their one-stop shop for financing, sales and management. 

How and where did you come up with the idea for your startup?
The idea was born out of the industry. Two of the 3 GOWAGO co-founders used to work in the industry and saw that the future of automotive car selling is monthly and digital. Our 3rd co-founders had the necessary knowledge and technical vision to make it all come together.

What do you expect from the Venture Leaders Fintech roadshow, and how will it help you achieve your vision?
GOWAGO is a profitable company in Switzerland and has laid out its expansion plan across Europe. Through this program, we expect to meet with the right investors who want to accompany us on our journey.
 
What are your team’s key achievements to date?
Our key achievements to date are reaching profitability in Q4 of 2022 and by growing the team to 40 people with little to no turnover. We are a company built by a great team and that is our greatest achievement.

Is there a key principle or value that guides you as you build your company?
We have built our company on the following principles: Easy - We make sure you’ll find your way easily. Fair - at everything we do, we use our brain and common sense to do what is right and fair for the customer, our partners and our team. Transparent - We do not indulge in hidden fees, or try to trick the customer in any way to enrich ourselves. Trustworthy - We work tirelessly to earn the customers', our partners', and our team's trust and strive to never break it.

What is the most important lesson you have learned as a founder?
Listen to your customers and don’t be afraid to admit you are wrong fast so you can move forward and build in the right direction. 
What is your favourite productivity hack/tool and why? Right now it has to be CHATGPT, saves insane amounts of time to do admin stuff.

What is your favourite productivity hack/tool and why?
CHATGPT: it turns out to save insane amounts of time to do admin stuff.

What was your dream job when you were a child?
My dream job was to be a founder, I always enjoyed sharing my thoughts on how stuff is made and I have a deep desire to leave a mark and change an industry for the better.

Do you recommend a podcast you want to share with us?
I enjoy the Joe Rogan podcasts, not that I always agree with his views but the guests and topics are often interesting and entertaining.

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ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The Venture Leaders Fintech 2023 were chosen from over 60 applications by an expert jury. The roadshow in London will accelerate their ventures’ growth and expand their international presence. Venture Leaders Fintech is organized in partnership with Swissnex, and supported by EPFL, ETH Zürich, Postfinance, and Walder Wyss.