routeRANK: eco-friendly travel planning is celebrating its 10-year jubilee

routeRANK is an EPFL spinoff which provides a software for journey planning. As opposed to other solutions which only take into account one transport, routeRANK considers the whole itinerary. «Multimodal and door-to-door are the magic words», says CEO Jochen Mundinger. «We take into account the whole route and all possible and relevant means of transport and their combinations. » This ranges from flights, train, public transport and car over to Park+Rail, Park+Ride, car sharing, carpooling, and even includes E-bikes, bicycles and footpaths. In only one search query, routeRANK’s system finds you the best itinerary. Thereby, criteria as cheapest price, fastest travel time and low CO2 emissions are considered.

For companies and institutions, the startup also provides tailor-made versions of its product, including business trips, visitors and commuters/parking lot allocation of the company’s mobility management.

venture leaders: a great experience
Before founding routeRANK in 2007, Mundinger studied mathematics and informatics. «As part of my promotion, I had to travel to England where I was employed as a scientist before the creation of routeRANK.»

Everybody of us knows the problem of a trip planning. It takes a lot of time and becomes complex very quickly. Mundinger faced the same problem: «Once too often I had to plan a journey and once too often it took too long. » After that, he decided to create a company, which simplifies this challenge – routeRANK was born.

In the beginning, Mundinger participated on diverse funding programs, which gave him much knowledge. As an example, he was part of the Swiss national startup team, the venture leaders in Technology, in 2007: «This was a great experience which I can only recommend to young Swiss founders. A great plus are the top-class and unique contacts made there.» As well, routeRANK could win the Venture Kick final the same year and win CHF 130.000 of seed capital, which the company could invest in its development: «The prize money helped us especially for the market maturity of the solutions and the early business development», explains Mundinger.

Large corporations as clients
Almost 3 years ago, routeRANK entered a cooperation with the mobility provider TCS. The system is therefore using the databases of ViaMichelin, SBB and other providers. Last month, this offering has been expanded and refinded, as TCS announced. routeRANK became the sector leader in its 10-year history and is working together with large corporations. Jochen Mundinger is proud of that: «Besides the „normal“ clients, we could also already work together with Zurich, Roche or the WEF. In addition, the federation or the canton of Valais are also part of our Swiss customers.» However, not everyone is as open-minded. «We also see companies which have more difficulties with young providers», he says.

A bright future
And how is it going with the competitors? «The first years it was rather calm. In the last years, however, we could recognize more startups specially in the consumer travel sector.» For its 10-year jubilee, routeRANK launched a new website, which provides new features. Mundinger explains: «The Business Solutions are clearer and separated from the multimodal route planner.» In addition, a further door-to-door journey planner with a focus on Switzerland has been uploaded.

What the next ten years will bring cannot be foreseen, but Mundinger thinks that routeRANK will further provide the best multimodal solutions for its clients. After all, the startup has established itself in its sector, counts large corporations in its clients list. Now the motivated CEO wants to bring his company to the next level with innovative ideas.