BoxUp

What BoxUp does

BoxUp SA is a Swiss connected-locker operator that designs, manufactures, and deploys modular, solar-powered locker stations containing sports and leisure equipment (football, basketball, pétanque, ping-pong, padel, fitness, board games, and more than 50 activities in total). Users access equipment free of charge through an iOS/Android mobile app that handles registration, AI-based identity document verification, locker opening, and equipment return via photograph through transparent locker glass. The company's revenue model is B2B/B2G: it sells or leases station infrastructure to municipalities, cities, and universities under multi-year contracts, while end-user access remains free.

The core technology stack combines IoT-connected electronic lockers, a cloud-based station management platform with an Excel-exportable statistics dashboard, AI-driven ID verification, and an in-house mobile application. All hardware is manufactured at the company's Renens, Vaud headquarters, and all user data is hosted with Infomaniak on Swiss servers under GDPR. Distribution is a hybrid model: direct sales to Swiss municipalities, complemented by exclusive channel partner agreements with SMC2 (France), Jupiter Play (UK), and TERRASPORT (Switzerland). BoxUp was founded in 2017–2019 by Frank Rouiller (CEO) and Florian Voumard (COO), won the CHF 150,000 Gebert Rüf BREF First Ventures prize in 2018, and converted from a partnership to a société anonyme in 2022. As of 2023, it had installed 100+ stations across Switzerland, France, Ireland, and Bromont (Quebec), serving 20,000+ registered users with 100,000+ hours of recorded usage.

Name

BoxUp

Legal name

BoxUp SA

Website

https://boxup.app

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

BoxUp SA designs and operates solar-powered, IoT-connected locker stations that provide free sports and leisure equipment rental through a mobile app, selling or leasing the hardware to municipalities, cities, and universities across Switzerland, France, Ireland, and Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Connected Sports Equipment Locker Systems

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Primary Ticketing Platforms & Box Office Systems (MPAGAJAA)

Keywords

• Smart locker stations
• Sports equipment rental
• Municipal recreation infrastructure
• Connected locker systems
• Public sports access

Headquarters

HQ city

Renens

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Station Sales/Leasing to Municipalities and Institutions: BoxUp generates revenue by selling or leasing connected locker stations to municipalities, cities, universities, and other public institutions. The company installs stations on public and private spaces, providing sports and leisure equipment rental infrastructure.
2. Equipment Provision and Maintenance: BoxUp provides and maintains sports equipment in the lockers. Station owners can also provide their own equipment. BoxUp sends replacement equipment for wear, theft, or damage.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BoxUp designs, manufactures, and sells or leases modular solar-powered connected locker stations containing sports and leisure equipment to municipalities, cities, and universities. Stations are installed in public and private spaces (parks, sports centers, campuses) and managed through a mobile app that allows end users to register, locate stations, open lockers, and return items by photographing equipment through transparent glass doors. Equipment is provided free of charge to end users for up to 3 hours per session, while BoxUp generates revenue from station hardware sales, leasing, and ongoing equipment maintenance contracts with institutional buyers.

Product overview

BoxUp is a unified sharing solution for free access to sports and leisure equipment through connected locker stations and a mobile application. The system consists of three integrated components: modular Connected Locker Stations (available in various sizes from 2-12 lockers, solar-powered, customizable design) that store equipment in public spaces; the BoxUp Mobile Application (iOS/Android) that enables users to locate stations, reserve equipment, open lockers, and return items; and a diverse Equipment inventory covering over 50 sports and leisure activities (football, basketball, pétanque, ping-pong, fitness, Mölkky, padel, skateboards, board games, and more). Users download the app, register with identity verification, select available equipment from nearby stations, use equipment for up to 3 hours free of charge, and return items by photographing them through transparent locker glass. BoxUp serves municipalities, universities, and public spaces across Switzerland, France, and Ireland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Connected Locker Stations Modular solar-powered connected locker stations installed in public and private spaces (parks, sports centers, campuses, urban areas) that store sports and leisure equipment for free rental. Stations are manufactured in Switzerland, fixed to the ground, customizable in size from 2 to 12 lockers, and managed remotely through a cloud platform.
• BoxUp Mobile Application Mobile application available on iOS and Android that enables end users to locate nearby BoxUp stations, view available equipment, reserve and open lockers, manage their account, complete identity verification, and return items by photographing equipment through transparent locker glass.
• Sports and Leisure Equipment Catalog Curated catalog of more than 50 sports and leisure equipment types stocked inside BoxUp stations, including football, basketball, pétanque, ping-pong, Mölkky (Finnish bowling), fitness training, padel tennis, skateboards, scooters, and board games. BoxUp provides and replaces equipment for wear, theft, or damage, or station owners can supply their own.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 stations installed by 2023
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SMC2coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSMC2 is BoxUp's commercial partner operating stations on the French market. This partnership enables BoxUp to expand distribution across France with a dedicated local partner handling sales and deployment.
• Jupiter PlaycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJupiter Play distributes BoxUp stations in the United Kingdom market, enabling geographic expansion into the British Isles.
• TERRASPORTcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTERRASPORT serves as a distribution partner for BoxUp in Switzerland, supporting local market penetration.
• InfomaniakcoreTechnology or IntegrationInfomaniak provides secure server hosting and data storage for BoxUp on servers located in Switzerland. All user data is stored securely in compliance with GDPR.
• FH-Inkubator PulseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoxUp joined the FH-Inkubator Pulse incubator in Geneva for 18 months starting 2019 to support early-stage development and market validation.
• Active Cities DublincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive Cities Dublin partnered with South Dublin County Sports Partnership to introduce BoxUp in Dublin parks, enabling Irish market entry.
• South Dublin County Sports PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSports partnership that collaborated with Active Cities Dublin to bring BoxUp stations to Dodder Valley Park and Beechfield Park in Dublin, Ireland.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/boxup-app

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BoxUp