In Founder Focus we introduce entrepreneurs and innovators working on our next generation of new business startups, social enterprises and small businesses.
At a glance
Founders: Andy Bowie & Richard Wafer
Business: My Auto Shop
Founded: 2020
HQ: Auckland
Can you tell us a bit about your business?
My Auto Shop launched in January 2020 to help remove the stress and uncertainty when looking after your car. After a bumpy ride through COVID, we’ve grown to have served tens of thousands of Kiwi drivers, helped over 300 great MTA approved mechanics around NZ use our marketplace to find new customers and grown a tech-powered mobile mechanic service in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
Our new take on a mobile mechanic is particularly exciting, with in-house built tech enabling our mechanics to deliver exceptional service on customers door steps. With WIFI powered vans, instant pricing algorithms and interactive job reports, car repair has never felt better.
What’s the backstory for your business idea?
With over 3.5 million passenger vehicles in NZ, and an average age of 15 years old, our cars need some love. But the typical Kiwi driver knows very little about our cars, which become more and more complex every year, leading to a huge information asymmetry between mechanic and customer, in turn, creating a huge amount of anxiety. Then ensues the experience of finding a mechanic you can trust, getting your car to the shop during your busy day, then worrying about the mystery of how much it will cost, which isn’t fun. So we’ve fixed it!
What programmes, learning or mentoring have been of assistance so far?
Love watching other businesses around the world innovate in the same industry. Huge amounts of insight can be drawn from working with others across oceans.
WORKING ON SOMETHING NEW, INTERESTING OR IMPORTANT? JOIN OUR COMMUNITY OF FOUNDERS AND TELL US ABOUT YOUR VENTURE HERE.
