Erez Arbel is an entrepreneur and Lyft driver whose side project is developing a restroom finder app called Getloo. Arbel makes up to $900 driving Lyft 30 hours weekly, but he also finds business inspiration on the road, not to mention a contact or two. He shared his story with us.
WHY HE LOVES LYFT: I love the freedom to choose my hours. Also, I like driving, and Lyft has been a great way to get know the Chicagoland area.
THE BIG IDEA: I got the idea for Getloo a couple of years ago while driving. I often needed to find restrooms in neighborhoods I didn’t know well. Now that I’ve developed the app, I’m plugged into neighborhoods specifically and, generally, I’m plugged into the Chicago tech community.
NETWORKING ON WHEELS: When I’m driving, I’m also working on my venture by telling people about Getloo and gathering feedback. I’ve met investors, mentors and other experienced professionals who have taught me a lot. I’ve collected a bunch of business cards and I’ve even surveyed and added interested passengers to my mailing list for launch day.
I still keep in touch with a few riders I connected with. And hey, I got a signature from a Chicago Cubs player.
PITCH PRACTICE: I like chatting with my passengers. Even one great conversation can make my day. When someone shows interest in what I’m doing, I have the opportunity to practice my pitch and get feedback. That’s valuable because these are potential app users.
My passengers also tend to be curious about the experience of driving for a ridesharing service. I always encourage them to give it a shot, since it’s easy and costs nothing to try.
