We recently connected with Bjarne Haug and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Bjarne, you’ve got such an interesting story, but before we jump into that, let’s first talk about a topic near and dear to us – generosity. We think success, happiness and wellbeing depends on authentic generosity and empathy and so we’d love to hear about how you become such a generous person – where do you think your generosity comes from?
I’d describe myself as outgoing and someone who genuinely enjoys helping others whenever I can. I’m a big believer in treating people the way I’d want to be treated, respectfully, fairly, and with kindness. What I’ve noticed is that when you treat people well, it often comes back to you in unexpected ways. People respond positively to kindness, it’s one of the most affordable things you can give, and yet it has such a big impact.
When it comes to generosity, I don’t think it’s about expecting something in return. Even small gestures, like offering your time, lending a hand, or simply making someone feel comfortable, can make a huge difference in someone’s day. To me, that’s a win for everyone.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’m incredibly excited about building myTrailer. It’s a real treat to wake up every day and dive into whatever challenges or surprises the day brings. At myTrailer, we’ve created a platform where people can rent trailers the same way you’d rent a car on Turo or a home on Airbnb. We’re currently based in Austin, Texas, and we’re focused on expanding throughout Texas and eventually nationwide.
What makes this business so special to me is the people. One day it might be someone renting a trailer to haul a $200,000 car, and the next it’s a teenager taking their pet pig to a livestock show in Dallas. You never know who you’ll meet at the door, but every single person has something to move from A to B, and that’s the common thread that makes this whole experience so fun and rewarding.
I personally have five trailers at my home, and each rental feels like a mini adventure. Our platform doesn’t cater to just one niche. It’s for anyone with a hitch. That includes movers, car enthusiasts, horse owners, business owners, and even people transporting something as niche as a rickshaw to an event. It’s exciting because we’re not just building a rental platform. We’re building a community by connecting people through real-world, practical needs.
Right now, we’re growing our user base and increasing awareness about the platform. We’re always looking to connect with more trailer owners and renters who want a smart, easy way to put their assets to work or get their hauling done.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I’ve launched and operated a platform before and successfully exited that business. That experience laid the foundation for diving into this new and somewhat wild endeavor of trailer rentals. It also gave me a solid understanding of how to build and grow a marketplace by connecting both sides effectively.
One of the more underrated skills I bring to the table is communication. I have a natural ability to connect with people, and in any client-facing role, those skills are absolutely essential. If you’re thinking of starting something where you’ll interact with customers, it’s critical to know whether you’re comfortable in that space. If you’re not sure, I highly recommend figuring that out early. Maybe it comes naturally to you, or maybe you need some guidance to get there. Either way, it’s something worth investing in.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is the value of surrounding yourself with advisors. I’ve seen well-meaning but overly self-assured founders run into problems simply because they didn’t seek out advice. No one has all the answers, and you don’t need to. Whether it’s creating a pitch deck, refining your pitch, handling legal matters, or navigating growth strategies, there’s always someone out there who knows that next step better than you do.
Personally, I try to stay open and approachable. If someone reaches out to me for advice, I do my best to help. So to any readers out there, don’t hesitate to connect. You never know what one good conversation can lead to.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Yes, we’re actively looking for strategic collaborators who can bring real value to the table. First and foremost, we’re seeking an insurance partner with experience in embedded insurance and a solid understanding of how coverage works within a marketplace model. This is a critical part of our platform, and we want to work with someone who sees the bigger picture and can help build trust at scale.
We’re also in the process of raising a seed round. However, we’re not just looking for capital. We prefer investors who understand the marketplace space, are willing to stay somewhat involved, and ideally can contribute as advisors. In our experience, having the right partner involved early can make a huge difference, especially when aiming for a successful and profitable exit a few years down the road.
If you’re reading this and see alignment, we’d love to connect. Reach out to us directly. Whether you’re an insurance expert or an investor who understands what we’re building, we’re open to conversations that move the needle.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mytrailer.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mytrailer_com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mytrailerrental
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mytrailer-inc
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@myTrailer_rental
Image Credits
Credit: myTrailer, inc
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
