How did the team members meet and how did the idea of working together on this project come about?
The founding partners are myself, Javier Viruel Rivera (CEO) Graduate in Economics, and Francisco M. Rico Jurado (CTO) Graduate in Computer Engineering. We met when we were teenagers and we have always shared a critical and entrepreneurial vision.
The idea arises in response to a need experienced firsthand. We have always liked to enjoy the beach in the company of friends and family, but as the years went by it became more difficult for us to attend to the necessary logistics. The project arose from this need. Bnbdays (English acronym for Beer and Beach Days) Another way to enjoy the beach.
How does Bnbdays innovate in this new way of enjoying the beach?
Bnbdays allows its users to enjoy a day at the beach with all the comforts without having to carry the necessary material (umbrellas, chairs, tables, etc.).
Bnbdays is a platform that allows the development of a new business model: The rental of beach equipment with delivery, assembly and collection on the beach itself.
Behind this new concept based on the circular economy, there is an important technological development that provides the App with the necessary tools and utilities to make it possible.
How does your solution contribute to the sustainability of seas and oceans?
Our solution contributes to the sustainability of seas and oceans through the responsible use and consumption of beach materials, based on the principles of the circular economy. We implement practices that ensure that materials are reused through rental, minimizing waste and environmental impact. In addition, we promote care for the environment by the professionals who provide the service, ensuring that they are committed to sustainable and environmentally friendly practices.
This is a non-invasive solution for our coasts, minimizing visual pollution and occupation of public space in contrast to similar services such as hammock concessions, which occupy space on the beaches even when they are out of service.
How do you think technology helps to enhance your solution?
Technological development has allowed us to scale and substantially improve a business model that in principle could only have been implemented locally.
Thanks to the application of technology, Bnbdays has managed to make the rental of beach equipment accessible remotely, allowing users of the App to reserve their beach setup days in advance, generate a secure payment system, geolocate the payment points. delivery of the contracted services and even that several users can combine their reservations into a single service, each paying their part.
What have been the main advances of your startup since the Incubazul acceleration program began?
Since our start in the Incubazul acceleration program we have increased the number of delivery points on the Spanish coast, our positioning as a brand referring to beach leisure has improved substantially, the number of visits to our website has increased significantly and, Perhaps most importantly, we have received reservations from foreign countries.
How has the accelerator influenced the growth of your company?
Having access to professionals from different specialties has allowed us to improve our structure, professionalize certain processes and grow as a company.
Something we place great value on is the opportunity to share strategies and vision with entrepreneurs who have experienced or are experiencing similar situations. This allows you to take some distance from the event itself and make more mature decisions.
Tell us about your startup's main achievements to date (awards, recognitions, patents, funding milestones, team …etc.).
Granting of the Certificate “Emerging Company” (ENISA).
First Prize 2023 for the best entrepreneurial company by the Canarian Confederation of Entrepreneurs.
What are the future plans?
Increase the offer through a greater presence on the Spanish peninsular coast, the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands through the franchisee model.
International immersion: start the first tests of Bnbdays in international markets in the main beach areas of the EU and South America.
Reach agreements with travel agencies and tour operators to include Bnbdays services in their travel package as a differential value.
Would you recommend this initiative led by the ZF to other blue economy startups? Because? What would you highlight?
Yes, without a doubt. It represents an important lever for growth based on advice and the generation of networking. The exercise of exposing and justifying decisions or strategies before qualified professionals represents a constant effort that naturally leads you to become aware of all the aspects of your project.
How has the Cádiz Free Trade Zone helped you accelerate your project? What help that has been offered to you stands out in particular?
One of the most notable helps has been the vision and reflection of other entrepreneurs within the Incubazul Incubator. Being able to interact and receive feedback from other professionals has allowed us to approach problems from another perspective.
What important lessons have you learned during your journey with the startup so far?
One of the most significant lessons we have learned is that nothing is as easy as it may initially seem. Starting a business is a constant challenge, full of unexpected obstacles and complexities that cannot always be foreseen. However, one thing we have discovered is that there are always several options, even when you cannot see them at a specific moment. You must open your mind and be willing to understand and apply new paradigms.
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs looking to develop solutions in this sector?
The main advice I would give to entrepreneurs interested in the blue economy is to analyze very well the level of acceptance of their project by society, its usefulness and, above all, its application in the short term. It is essential to arrive at the right time, the market must be prepared to understand your value proposition.
