Wulo: A Nonprofit Alternative to Uber

In the era when Uber was the ultimate tech darling—flush with funding, taking 25% platform fees, and leaving drivers with just 25% of the ride fare after taxes and expenses—I saw an opportunity. Drivers were grinding 15+ hour days, six or seven days a week, taking on all the risks while Uber dodged VAT, engaged in tax evasion, and pocketed the rewards.

Uber, at its core, wasn’t a revolutionary invention. It was a chat app—an intermediary connecting drivers and customers. So, I asked myself: why couldn’t a nonprofit do the same? That’s how Wulo (wulo.fr) was born. My goal was simple yet ambitious: to prove that a fair, nonprofit alternative could thrive in a world dominated by corporate giants.

The vision was bold: create a platform that empowered drivers, eliminated exploitative cuts, and offered transparency. It was David vs. Goliath, with no venture capital, just purpose and determination.

The adventure was humbling and full of learnings. The biggest hurdle? Convincing drivers to trust the mission. Many drivers, disillusioned with platforms, saw Wulo as “the good guy who would eventually turn bad.” They avoided the fight entirely, leaving Wulo without the critical mass to compete.

When I stepped away from Wulo, I didn’t abandon my commitment to fairness or nonprofits. Instead, I shifted my focus. I realized I wanted to work on technical challenges rather than relying on convincing people to join a cause. Wulo taught me to stay persistent, even when skepticism feels insurmountable, and to innovate in ways that don’t hinge on buy-in from the very systems you’re challenging.

Wulo wasn’t just an experiment; it was a reminder that fairness is worth fighting for, even when the odds seem stacked against you.