Our Startup Booster program helps aspiring entrepreneurs who want to pursue an impact-driven startup in the field of urban-tech by turning their gut feeling into a business. With 7 teams 'boosted' during our launch, we look back at a successful first run. How are the entrepreneurs doing now? This week the spotlight is on: Mublio.
“Mublio developed a smart design and production system for built-in furniture. Our designs are fully customizable, and are produced by computer. This way, customization becomes affordable again.”
Koel Kaljee | AMS Startup Booster Alumni | Co-founder Mublio
Making custom-made furniture accessible and affordable
Many city residents live in narrow houses or have to deal with 'awkward' spaces in their homes. What if you want to make the most of your square meters with custom-made built-in furniture?
Normally this kind of custom-made carpentry takes a lot of time and is therefore unaffordable for many people. Mublio developed an innovative solution to retrofit existing houses and help make spacious housing more affordable. With a little help from their first employee 'Cindy', Mublio founders David Demper and Metropolitan Analysis, Design and Engineering (MSc MADE) alumni Koen Kaljee create their affordable custom-made built-in furniture.
“We joined the AMS Startup Booster with a clear vision, prototypes of different products and a businessmodel. We needed feedback on specific parts of our business. The program offered this. Also AMS Institute has a great facility where we could develop our prototypes.”
David Demper | AMS Startup Booster Alumni | Co-founder Mublio
An innovative solution to digitally design and produce furniture
What does the design and production process look like? First off, there's a standard design on a computer. This design allows for easy "with the push of a button" customizing based on residents individual circumstances. With the next click, Cindy is put to work: an entire staircase closet is precisely sawn out in an hour, after which Koen and David only have to put it together. 'Hourly billing' is out of the question, instead one pays a fixed price for these made-to-measure cupboards.
Mublio started this 'furniture revolution' with built-in cupboards to make efficient use of the space underneath your stairs for example. The two entrepreneurs see a huge demand for affordable built-in furniture. Ideas for other furniture are already being developed. From beds to home offices? Ultimately, Mublio works towards building a catalog with a wide range of custom-made furniture.
Can't wait to use your square meters more efficiently? Get more living space with custom-made furniture by Mublio >>
“Mublio began the built-in revolution with the least-used living space: the square meters underneath the stairs. With our innovative approach, we plan to change the furniture industry. We have two dreams for upcoming year: to automate the production in a way we can design, build and deliver one cabinet a day and to launch a second product.”
Koen Kaljee | AMS Startup Booster Alumni | Co-founder Mublio
How Mublio got ‘boosted’
For over 3 months the AMS Startup Booster offered Mublio access to the testing area of Marineterrein Amsterdam Living Lab, a Makerspace at AMS Institute, workshops and training, and connections with a large ecosystem of academics, city officials, private and public organizations. This helped Mublio validate their assumptions and connect them with potential partners and initiatives to grow their business idea further. Mublio's ultimate goal is to be able to design, make and install whole smart apartments with built in bed, offices and closets.
During the program, the team learned the importance of starting simple. Koen and David decided to focus on one part of custom furniture to start with: the stairs cabinet and do this very well. After this Mublio will expand the catalog to include a full range of items for residents to furnish a whole apartment.
When asking the team behind Mublio what surprised them most about the AMS Startup Booster? They indicate: the flexibility of the program. To illustrate, after Mublio had a successful private coaching session with Parsia Tayebi on objectives and key results, the Booster team got so excited that a group session for the other participating teams on this topic was quickly planned.
“There are not a lot of examples of companies offering custom products online, and we needed to create a custom yet familiar experience. Participating in the Booster program, our goal was to develop the digital part of our business; online marketing and the customer journey.”
David Demper | AMS Startup Booster Alumni | Co-founder Mublio
The AMS Startup Booster helps you test and pilot your business idea
Did Mublio inspire you to boost your idea for a sustainable or tech business that impacts city life and solves urban challenges? We're looking for ambitious entrepreneurs to join our 2022 edition of the program!
With this program, we help you to turn your innovative ideas into reality and bring your startup to the next level. During a period of 4 months, you receive guidance from a diverse group of experts, we help you eliminate uncertainties, do a thorough customer discovery, and form a strong team. Ultimately, our aim is for you to venture out with a solid pitch and minimal viable product.