COMIN: The French Ride-Hailing Startup Shaking Up the Giants

Nov. 13, 2024

How does a small team manage to shake up the giants of the ride-hailing sector? Founded by Dany El Oubari and Victor Feuillat, this Paris-based startup is challenging the major players in the French ride-hailing market.

With its human-centered, transparent approach, COMIN attracts more drivers and passengers every day, proving that a fairer, more human-centered alternative is not only possible but essential. Since its launch last April in Paris, COMIN has been completing over 1,000 rides per week and has already built a community of 6,000 drivers, representing nearly 15% of all drivers in France.

Empowering Drivers and Ensuring Affordable Fares for Passengers

COMIN’s model prioritizes people, empowering drivers and offering affordable fares for passengers. COMIN’s mission is to use technology to restore trust and transparency between drivers and passengers. Unlike the industry giants that reduce driver earnings, COMIN caps its commission at just 10%, the lowest rate on the market. This model ensures drivers are fairly compensated for their work.

During its latest crowdfunding round, COMIN raised €300,000 from 130 investors, including over 50 drivers who became stakeholders in the platform, along with French billionaire tech entrepreneur Xavier Niel, who supports COMIN’s ambition to place people at the heart of urban mobility transformation.

"Set Your Price": Pricing that Serves Both Passengers and Drivers

While the industry giants rely on opaque algorithms, COMIN brings innovation with “Set Your Price,” the first of its kind in Europe ride-hailing. This feature allows passengers to freely propose their ride price, encouraging fair rates and equitable earnings for drivers, with a minimum fare of €11 for shorter trips. Passengers also have the option to increase their offer to find a driver more quickly. Eventually, COMIN plans to allow drivers to make counteroffers, establishing a fair and direct negotiation process, far from the typical dynamic pricing practices.

One of the 40 Top Startups at STATION F

Recognized for its human-centered vision, COMIN has been selected as one of the 40 most promising startups at STATION F, the world’s largest startup campus, which supports over 1,000 startups each year. This year, the Future 40 program has primarily highlighted AI-driven startups, and COMIN’s inclusion among these top companies underlines the uniqueness and relevance of its human-centered, fair approach, standing in contrast to industry giants whose interests often seem disconnected from community needs.