Startup claims to have the solution to mobility's fundamental problem

A UK startup, Tomorrow's Journey, has developed a digital platform called JRNY that matches underutilised vehicle assets with companies who have consumer transport demand, particularly from new flexible mobility offerings such as car sharing and micro transit services. Tomorrow's Journey aims to help flexible mobility become scalable by making better use of assets whilst unlocking billions of pounds of additional revenue for the assets owners.

Although any type of mobile asset can be listed on the platform, from agricultural equipment to bicycles, Tomorrow's Journey's initial focus is on automotive assets and the potential in the growing new mobility market. The reason is that despite the publicity, existing mobility services are struggling to deliver profitable services that are also convenient and cost effective for customers.

According to Tomorrow's Journey founder and chief executive officer Chris Kirby: "Today there is rapidly growing consumer demand for more flexible ways of accessing vehicles and transportation but the current market can't deliver this within its existing suite of products. We are seeing innovative business models coming into the market but there isn't the vehicle network to allow any kind of scalability so the offerings remain niche."

"JRNY enables assets to be pooled to provide a flexible and cost-effective way to meet demand, particularly as interest in car-sharing services grows."

After raising seed investment from high profile industry figures such as ex-JLR board member David Betteley and Ed White, Chairman of White Clarke Group, the company is forming partnerships for pilots and will formally launch the platform in September ready for a commercial rollout as soon as January 2019.

Betteley said "This is not your average start-up, as a lot of progress has already been made. JRNY provides an ideal solution to meeting market demands as people shift away from ownership. While subscription services are trying to meet that need, they are expensive. We have taken a unique approach to match underutilised assets to market demand that will support growth of the sharing economy."