This year, 15 companies are showcasing in the Start-Up Pavilion at METSTRADE. The Start-Up Pavilion – organised by Yachting Ventures – offers a platform for emerging companies to showcase ideas and new products.

MIN‘s exclusive interviews with the startups will run this month online and in the next issue of the magazine. Here, Bertrand Gerbaud, founder of BoatOn talks about breaking into the marine market.

What gap in the market did you identify for your product/system?

“It all began when Philippe Vignaux, technical director of the yacht management company Wistream, reached out with a request for simple software to monitor and organise the maintenance of all the Sanlorenzo yachts he was managing in the Mediterranean. At the time, BoatOn had already developed a highly user-friendly app, popular among thousands of boat owners, which Philippe admired. He wanted that same simplicity for professional use. Philippe and Bertrand worked closely together for a year to launch BoatOn Book at the Cannes Yachting Festival in September 2021, where it was awarded an innovation prize.

How is your product different to your competitors?

“Simple: no training required (unlike most competitors who need three days/user), and the software is self-service with all prices displayed online with a 30-day free trial.

“Mobile first: the software has been thought since the beginning to be used on any smartphone or tablet.

“And, more innovative: The latest feature, an automatic logbook, is unique and gaining significant attention from companies worldwide. BoatOn automatically generates maritime log books using AIS and weather data.” 

What have been the biggest lessons since you started the business? 

“‘Consumer is the boss.’ That was written on the walls of the company where I previously worked (Procter & Gamble), and it couldn’t be more true. Listening to consumers and end-users for every new feature we consider is the key driver of our success. Personally, I still handle a lot of onboarding and support to stay connected with our users and ensure we’re focusing on the right things.”

Who are you working with?

“We work with a variety of clients, including yacht owners, sailing schools like Les Glénans, and an increasing number of commercial vessels such as passenger boats (Vedettes de Paris), cargo ships (Compagnie Saintoise), maritime service companies (Somara), fishing enterprises, and even Search and Rescue organisations (SNSM).

“We already have clients abroad in countries like the USA, Canada, Spain, Italy, Indonesia, and Australia, despite not having actively promoted there. Our goal is to become the leading solution for simplifying yacht management, while helping to reduce their carbon footprint.”

What are the opportunities in your segment? And the greatest challenge? 

“We are developing a very simple, self-service product that can be used by both yacht owners and superintendents – opportunities are everywhere. The biggest challenge is the lack of attention typically given to maintenance and yacht management. It’s often seen as something to address later and viewed purely as a cost, whereas well-organised management can save a lot of money and, most importantly, ensure safety onboard.”

How is your consumer changing?

“Digitalisation is everywhere, and consumers are using more apps every day that transform their lives – whether it’s ordering food from the couch or getting an Uber. Our users are no different; they adapt quickly when they find something useful and easy to use.”

The post METSTRADE: BoatOn founder talks startup and new challenges appeared first on Marine Industry News.