A Lawyer Turned Tech Entrepreneur
Raffael Fiechter, Founder of Carify, sat down with Philippe Séjalon, interviewer and podcast host, to share how a law degree and a chance encounter with a high school friend's startup set him on the path to disrupting the mobility industry. After joining the software company Sherpany to help build its sales force, Raffael caught the entrepreneurial bug and never looked back. Together with his co-founder Sergio, he launched Carify, a car subscription platform that connects over 400 dealerships with private and corporate customers across Switzerland.
Flexibility as the Core Value Proposition
Carify is not a traditional rental company. While the contract technically renews monthly, the platform targets a very different need: flexible, medium to long-term car access. Customers range from city dwellers who only need a car for ski season, to families welcoming a new child, to seniors hesitant about a four-year lease. Businesses with seasonal staffing peaks also turn to Carify. The platform has even featured Bentleys, Maybachs, Porsches, and Audi R8s, with the highest monthly rental reaching around 6,500 Swiss francs.
An Asset-Light Model Built on Digital Innovation
What sets Carify apart is its asset-light approach. Rather than buying cars, the company digitizes the stock of dealerships, automating insurance, registration across all 26 Swiss cantons, and tax payments. Raffael describes it as building an Airbnb for cars: whoever has a car lists it, Carify handles the entire process, and takes a margin on the transaction. This model avoids residual value risk entirely and makes it nearly impossible for large players like Sixt or Arval to replicate. With a team of 30 and a dedicated sales force trained on American SaaS methodologies, Carify is doubling revenues year over year. Strategic investor Zurich Insurance Group has also taken a minority stake, validating the concept at the highest level.
Sales, AI and the Road Ahead
Raffael is blunt about what drives success: sales is a process, not a talent. Follow the funnel, eliminate excuses, and keep dialing. On the technology side, Carify is actively using generative AI tools for brainstorming, content creation, and process documentation. With breakeven in the Swiss market targeted for the end of the year, international expansion is next, with a deliberate, capital-efficient strategy that keeps the founders firmly in control.
Discover Carify
Carify is a Swiss car subscription platform that partners with over 400 dealerships to offer flexible monthly vehicle access to individuals and businesses. By digitizing all backend processes including insurance, registration, and taxation, Carify delivers a seamless experience without owning a single car. The platform serves a wide range of customers, from urban residents seeking seasonal mobility to companies managing fleet peaks. Backed by Zurich Insurance Group and growing steadily, Carify is redefining how people access cars in Switzerland and beyond. Discover more at Carify and on their LinkedIn page.
