Glovo Co-Founder Sacha Michaud’s Quick-Fire Chat with Barna Hub
Exclusive interviews offering insight, resources and advice with Barcelona startup founders and entrepreneurs, only on Hubbub Labs.
Barna Hub invited Glovo co-founder Sacha Michaud along for a mulled wine, a bit of figgy pudding, and a chat about the Barcelona-based on-demand delivery platform.
Glovo recently closed a series B round, raising €30 million led by Cathay Innovation, and is set to invest in its platform to better serve users, couriers and providers.
Use the app to connect with independent delivery drivers or glovers and pick up just about anything from restaurants, cafés, or shops in the city and get it delivered within an hour. All orders can be tracked in real time via a GPS monitor.
Currently available in Barcelona, Madrid, Rome, Milan, Paris and several other cities in Spain, Glovo has a quarter of a million users and is closing in on order number 2 million.
Over you to Sacha!
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Down to business
Why did you decide to become an entrepreneur?
I love seeing an opportunity to disrupt traditional industries. Doing it yourself is the best way to get it done.
How did you come up with the idea for Glovo?
I was thinking of the need to have a real on-demand marketplace. It would allow you to receive anything in your city within minutes (more or less an Uber of things). I met my partner, who had just came back from the US and was developing a similar idea, so we decided to do it together.
What’s been the hardest thing growing a company at such a fast rate?
Early on, trying to demonstrate a real business model around your idea. Then as you grow, and the unit economics start working, the challenge becomes more about scaling all three sides of the marketplace at the same pace to grow at the speed you need to.
What’s the future for Glovo?
We are focusing on two things: profitability in mature cities and growth in new ones. Then, we will be scaling every aspect of the business to allow this solid growth.
Barcelona Insight
What makes Glovo better suited to Barcelona than deliveroo, amazon prime or other delivery services?
We offer “anything” in your city. We have the best restaurants and food delivery, but at the same time we can also deliver groceries in 30 minutes, go to the pharmacy after midnight, or even pick-up your keys you left at work. Our vision is give you access to the whole city and deliver immediately.
What do you love most about Barcelona’s startup scene?
It´s a great place to work and it is attracting a lot of International talent right now, mainly for the opportunity to join great projects combined with a healthy lifestyle.
I have been here for over 20 years so I take a lot of things for granted. But Barcelona is certainly one of the best cities in the world to combine work and pleasure.
What advice would you give to someone thinking about starting their own business in Barcelona?
Go for it, be prepared to be persistent as there is still too much bureaucracy.
Having said that, any business you start anywhere in the world will have different issues and hurdles to get over. Barcelona isn’t any different.
If you were leaving Barcelona tomorrow, how would you spend your last day?
If it were spring or summer, I would head out to the Costa Brava and enjoy an amazing lunch with family and friends.
Hubbub – Thanks Sacha, great talking with you!
Find Glovo Online
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glovoappES/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Glovo_ES
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/9262901/
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