WeWash

WeWash GmbH operates as a technology and service provider for communal laundry facilities, originating as a corporate spin-off from BSH Hausgeräte GmbH, part of the Bosch Group. The company was established in Munich, Germany, on January 7, 2016, by Philip Laukart and Dr. Rafael Kirschner, who identified a market need to modernize shared laundry services during their tenure at BSH. Laukart, an industrial engineer, and Kirschner drew upon their experience with consumer needs in the washing machine and dryer market to address the frustrations associated with traditional, coin-operated laundry rooms.

The business targets operators of multi-residence properties such as student housing, micro-apartments, hotels, and the broader housing industry. WeWash's business model centers on digitizing the entire laundry process. The company offers two main solutions: "WeWash Box" and "WeWash Care". The WeWash Box is a hardware device that can be retrofitted to existing washing machines and dryers, regardless of their brand or age, to connect them to the WeWash digital platform. This system eliminates the need for coins or tokens by enabling users to book machines, monitor laundry status, and pay for cycles through a mobile or web application. Payments are processed digitally via methods like credit card, PayPal, and Apple Pay, with WeWash taking a share of the revenue.

Under the "WeWash Care" model, the company provides a more comprehensive service by equipping laundry rooms with new, energy-efficient Bosch commercial appliances at no upfront investment cost to the property owner. WeWash manages the installation, maintenance, and the entire operational workflow, including billing and customer support, and shares the revenue with the property operator. This all-inclusive package also offers options like i-DOS automatic detergent-dosing machines, which optimize detergent and water usage. The company has expanded its operations across several European countries and, as of June 2023, serves over 250,000 users.

Keywords: communal laundry, digital payment system, PropTech, IoT, shared laundry solutions, B2B laundry service, laundry room management, cashless laundry, Bosch spin-off, smart laundry, mobile app laundry, laundry booking system, commercial washing machines, student housing amenities, micro-living solutions, property management technology, WeWash Care, WeWash Box, Philip Laukart, Rafael Kirschner