Back

In a world facing increasing ecological and social challenges, Luc VERWAERDE and Victor MATIGOT have launched “Loula“—an eco-friendly, community-driven car-sharing service. Their entrepreneurial journey began during their studies at IÉSEG and materialized following a transformative exchange semester in Lebanon. Inspired by social entrepreneurship, they launched “Loula” to revolutionize mobility in France.

Luc—could you tell us about Loula’s beginnings?

I met my associate, Victor MATIGOT, at IÉSEG. We were both studying in the Grande École Program. As part of our studies, both of us spent a semester abroad in 2022 at Saint-Joseph University in Beirut, Lebanon. The country was experiencing complex economic and political challenges at the time. This experience deeply impacted us as we studied social entrepreneurship and witnessed firsthand its potential societal impact. We had the opportunity to engage with and be inspired by many local entrepreneurs.

This inspired us to create our own project back in France, reflecting our values and the positive impact we aimed to achieve in society. We enrolled in the Master’s cycle in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, where we participated in a practical business creation program—which replaces the traditional thesis—with a comprehensive business plan for our entrepreneurial venture.

So that’s when Loula was officially founded?

We developed our Business Creation Project (PCE) around the central idea that sharing could be a solution to current challenges, especially ecological ones. We hold strong ecological values and believe that society should move towards greater sustainability. Sharing not only supports ecological goals but also offers economic benefits by reducing costs while maintaining access to essential goods and services.

Why focus on car-sharing in particular?

Through initial market surveys, we found that the car was the item that people were most willing to share. This led us to explore the mobility challenges in France. We discovered a striking statistic: today, 15 million people in France face limited access to transportation. This mobility insecurity can lead to serious consequences, such as exclusion from employment and healthcare. Conversely, many vehicles are underutilized by their owners despite the high costs of ownership. We wanted to find an cost-saving and eco-friendly solution, emphasizing sharing as a core value. Thus, we created Loula, a long-term car-sharing solution for individuals.

And how does it work?

We aim to bridge the gap between owners who use their cars infrequently—despite high costs—and those who need a car but cannot or prefer not to buy one. Our goal is to connect potential owners and tenants while ensuring secure and regulated exchanges.

Central to our value proposition is establishing lasting relationships between two people sharing a car over several months. Unlike impersonal rental apps, where users rent cars without knowing each other, Loula facilitates personal meetings between owners and tenants to discuss sharing arrangements. We are present during these initial exchanges to ensure clarity for both parties.

We also prioritize flexibility in sharing arrangements. For example, an owner in Paris who uses public transport during the week could share their car from Monday to Friday with someone needing it for commuting, reclaiming it on weekends. This flexibility allows participants to adjust their sharing schedules—whether it’s 5 days a week, every day, or weekends only.

Loula takes a commission based on the sharing duration. Longer rentals incur lower commissions, aiming to foster long-term sharing relationships.

Where does Loula stand today?

Loula has been officially operational for about six months. Our website is live, and we are currently developing a more comprehensive platform with a mobile application alongside our technical team. We continue to refine our service based on customer needs and feedback. Long-term, we aim for 10,000 annual shares and potentially expanding across Europe.

What is your biggest challenge currently?

Our primary challenge is increasing awareness and balancing the number of owners and tenants in our database to ensure satisfaction for all parties involved. We are expanding our network primarily through effective word-of-mouth, without any current fundraising efforts.