"And that's when I was all in" - the beginnings of even logistics

Sometimes a story begins before you even realize you're part of it. For me, it started many years ago – because as early as the IWML episode in November 2018, I was already musing about missing synergies, and the word 'platform' even came up. Back then, it was more of a thought in the back of my mind. I was happy in my job for a long time – challenged and content. But that tingle, that quiet voice whispering, "There could be more to this," had been there for a while. 

The catch? I didn't have a good idea. 

The first spark 

In my main job, I regularly compared technologies and looked for optimization potential – not just out of obligation, but out of genuine interest. On top of that, I loved connecting people: bringing those with a challenge together with those who had the right solution. With no thought of commission, no ulterior motives – simply because it felt right. 

One evening, while scrolling, I stumbled across a Medium article on two-sided marketplaces. (If you'd like to read it: Here's the article).  

Two-sided marketplaces 

The article "Two-Sided Marketplaces and Engagement" by Sequoia Capital explores how two-sided marketplaces – platforms that connect two distinct user groups – can drive engagement. Examples include Facebook, YouTube, and Amazon, which bring together producers and consumers of content or goods. A central element for the success of such platforms is the "Production-Consumption Loop" – the cycle between the creation and consumption of content. Algorithms that surface relevant content strengthen user retention. Network effects also play a decisive role: the more users a platform has, the more valuable it becomes for each individual. However, negative network effects can occur when, for example, a flood of content diminishes quality. The article emphasizes that understanding these dynamics is essential to achieving sustainable growth and high user retention. 

I hadn't expected it to grab me the way it did. But suddenly my mind was buzzing with questions: Why does this work the way it does? And why not differently? What's missing to make it even better? How can this work in logistics? 

That evening, I started thinking more deeply. The first draft of an idea was little more than a pile of half-formed thoughts – and a few rough PowerPoint slides: