Ukrainian Alexei Klempner launches 'Uber' for delivery of marijuana in California - ForumDaily
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As a Ukrainian, Alexey Klempner launched 'Uber' in California to deliver marijuana

Alexey Klempner develops marijuana delivery service together with partners Eaze. In interview for MC Today He spoke about the move from Ukraine to the USA, the entrepreneurial path, the nuances of work in the cannabis industry and other projects. ForumDaily publishes a shortened version of the material.

Moving to the United States and meeting with business partners

In 1997, Alexey and his family moved from Ukraine to the USA: “Before the collapse of the USSR, my father was not allowed to travel abroad, they did not want to let him go to another country because of his occupation - he worked in the field of physics and even wrote several books. After the collapse of the USSR, it was no longer necessary for anyone - we easily got refugee status and left. ”

“A year later, I got into my first startup, worked as a programmer. We connected the Internet with phones. Now it is a common thing, but then it was a real revolution. The company has patented click to call, pay per call and other similar things, ”recalls Klempner.

In 2000, technical startups began to experience difficulties due to the dot-com bubble, and the economic situation worsened after the September 11 terrorist attack on 2001. “The staff of our company has seriously decreased, the office was closed altogether, so I moved to Moscow,” says Alexey.

A few months later, former employers called Klempner back to America - they set up a telephone service. Outlook Amusementswho provided the services of fortunetellers and astrologers. Alexey grew from chief engineer to vice president of technology.

At this time, he met his future business partner, Roy Edery. Later, they together tried to launch a few startups, but without much success.

In 2008, Klempner was offered to come to Ukraine and set up a software development company there: “I never wanted a consulting business for myself, but we started doing projects, making money on it and were able to pay off debts.”

"At the same time, I helped the company Yammer in Los Angeles to build relationships with large corporations, was a kind of consultant. With Vice President Yammer on global sales of Kis McCarthy we started making good friends. As a result, he offered me and Roy to create a common project, ”recalls Alexey.

New business had to meet three factors.

“When in 2013, we saw how fast Uber and Airbnb, we realized that we needed a business with the same model - a service on demand, ”recalls Alexey.

When choosing a direction, partners evaluated three factors:

  • How often people will need a service. “For example, in a megalopolis where it is sometimes difficult to find a place to park your own car, a person can use Uber two or three times a week - quite often ";
  • Will people talk about the service to their friends? "If I called Uber for friends and they had never heard of him before, then by the time the trip ends they will have this application installed on their smartphone ”;
  • How quickly spoils the product. “In the case of a food order, in an hour nobody will need it - it will cool down or soften altogether. We were looking for a product that will not deteriorate. ”

One of the areas that met all three requirements was the cannabis industry: “In 2013, part of it was still semi-legal. We knew that if we made a professional service, we would definitely be successful. ”

To find out more about the market, Alexey and Roy decided to meet with the marijuana shop owners - they pretended they wanted to buy their business.

“We were scheduled to meet in the city of Van Nuys (California) - not the safest place, to be honest. When we arrived, there was still no one there. After a couple of minutes, we heard a screech of brakes and saw out of the window, like from a black Mercedes-Benz there are two people of eastern appearance, and obviously after the party - it turned out to be the store owners. ”

“Their office resembled a hangout for friends — we entered a grass-filled dark room with neon light. It was scary, ”says Alexey.

Partners studied the industry and, a few months later, launched a marijuana delivery service. Eaze. According to Alexey, now it is the largest service in the USA of this kind. For all the time in the service attracted about $ 52 million investment. Alexey does not disclose company revenues.

"At the moment in Eaze I am a shareholder - I do not work there, but I follow what happens, ”says Klempner. Edery and McCarthy also do not participate in the management of the company.

Eaze delivers marijuana in minutes

From previous experience, the partners understood that a professional approach can turn any “gray” industry into a “white” one.

“Professionalism consisted in the fact that marijuana was transported by neatly dressed drivers in normal cars. The grass was given in beautiful paper boxes with the company logo, and not in ordinary packages, ”says Alexey.

Delivery took up to 15 minutes: “In San Francisco at the time of creation Eaze there were about 200 thousand patients who officially could use marijuana, and in itself a small city - 120 km square. (for comparison: the area of ​​Kyiv is 840 km², and Moscow is 2 km² – Ed.). We just started a lot of cars. Sometimes people could get an order in just a few minutes. ”

Many media outlets began to write about us and even called them “Uber herbs

“Each state has its own laws on cannabis distribution. But Eaze never really touched the product. This is where investors are so interested in - the risks are minimal, ”says Alexey.

Eaze It works only with companies that have a license to sell. Companies hire drivers, and they simply use a technology platform. Eaze For delivery.

«Eaze - a purely Californian company. California is the largest legal market in the world, ”says Klempner.

According to Exploration for 2017 year customers Eaze place an order every ten seconds. 65% of clients are men, 25% are women. People who use marijuana spend an average of $ 180 per month on it.

Who smokes grass and how much does it cost

To buy cannabis, you need a doctor's certificate. Partners even created a service Eaze md, which allowed to get it online: “It's like Face Time: You call up a doctor, he looks at you, makes a diagnosis and can issue an electronic certificate. ”

Now after 21, anyone can buy marijuana. With 18 - only as prescribed by a doctor. Usually, cannabis is prescribed for people with stress or insomnia.

“The customers of marijuana are ordinary people: costume professionals, workers, bodybuilders. Everybody smokes grass. Rastaman stigma is almost non-existent, ”explains Klempner.

"In assortment Eaze Now 61 brand and 427 product names. Goods are very different - not only grass. Cannabis can be added to cookies, chocolates, oils and other products. The prices are varied, but it all starts somewhere from $ 10, ”says Alexey.

Why projects cannot be done alone

Now Alexey and his partners are engaged in other projects: “One of the startups is“ Garages ”in Dubai. The service will start this year and will help people find car repair shops. At the same time, an employee of the service will come, pick up the car, and then return it washed and in good condition back to the owner. ”

Another project - Bistro planet: “This is a one-of-a-kind technology for street food vendors that allows you to find profitable points of sale. In addition, customers can do remote orders - mobile payment technology has been implemented. ”

All projects Klempner does in partnership. "There is safety in numbers. We launched successful startups only when we found very good partners, ”he says.

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