Executive Summary: TransferWise is an online money transfer service that allows customers to send money at low fares across 50 different currencies. Contrary to traditional exchange services and banks, TransferWise claims to up to 13x cheaper. Founded in 2011 by two London based Estonians, the company makes money by charging a fee on every cross-currency … Read more
Executive Summary: Wish is a mobile-first e-commerce platform that connects interested buyers with international sellers (mainly from China). The app utilizes an algorithmic feed along with different psychological “tricks” to boost sales. Wish makes money via sales fees, logistics services offered to merchants, and by selling ads (called ProductBoost) on its platform. Founded in 2011, … Read more
Executive Summary: N26 is direct bank offering various financial products through its mobile application. Its main differentiator from traditional banks is a technology-first approach to banking, no physical branches, convenience of service, free accounts, and a transparent fee structure. The business model of N26 is based on charging private consumers or business owners for premium … Read more
In 2011, venture capital investor Marc Andreessen published his famous article “Why Software Is Eating the World”. He boldly predicted that software will become an essential part of our daily lives. Over 10 years later, his predication became reality. Nowadays, software companies such as Google or Microsoft, are some of the most profitable and valuable … Read more
Executive Summary: Poshmark is a marketplace where merchants offer fashion-related items to interested buyers. The company differs from other operators (e.g. eBay) by incorporating social elements, such as likes and followers, into the platform. Poshmark makes money via commissions on peer-to-peer sales, its premium boutique service, as well as by taking a cut on products … Read more
Amazon, eBay, Airbnb, or Uber are just a few of many companies operating as an online marketplace. Customers love them for their abundance of choice and shopping convenience. What you may not know is that these examples (as well as many other marketplaces) have become some of the biggest and most valuable companies in the … Read more
What do Dropbox, Spotify, YouTube, and Fortnite all have in common? They are what people refer to as a freemium model. Freemium is such a big part of our lives that even SouthPark took the courtesy to make fun of it in its ‘Freemium Isn’t Free’ Episode. But how did it become such a wide-spread … Read more
Let’s face it: it’s 2022 and almost anybody we know is subscribed to some sort of service. Whether it is Netflix or Spotify, subscriptions have taken over the way we consume products. This article covers the ins and outs of subscription based business models, ranging from pros and cons to various examples and how to … Read more
Executive Summary: Lemonade Insurance is a digital insurance company that offers renters, car, pet-, and homeowners insurance. Lemonade Insurance makes money by charging its customers monthly premiums. The business model of Lemonade is built on the theory of behavioral economics, for instance by donating any unclaimed surplus to charity. Founded in 2015, Lemonade has grown … Read more
FlixBus is one of Europe’s leading mobility platforms, enabling consumers to take cheap inter-city travels via bus and train. But how a fairly young upstart challenge the many existing and well-established operators in the old continent? And how does FlixBus generate its revenue? Let’s dive into its platform, history and business model in more detail. … Read more