Milwaukee startup delivering gasoline directly to vehicles

A Milwaukee entrepreneur is building an early-stage business around a simple concept: delivering gasoline directly to vehicles.

Talethea Thompson is owner of PumpFive Fuel Delivery Service. She says going to the gas station is hardly anyone’s favorite activity, adding some businesses are paying for their employees to make these trips on company time.

“Nobody likes going; there’s no real reason for it,” Thompson said earlier this month at a pitch presentation held in Madison.

The startup was created in April, and Thompson has managed to build a customer base composed of both individual customers and corporate accounts. PumpFive sells regular and premium gasoline, as well as diesel fuel.

“Right now our individual customers love us,” she said. “They have access to our app, where they can order, schedule and drop a pin. We’ll go wherever their vehicles are parked.”

While individual drivers are enjoying the convenience, Thompson says corporate customers are saving money as they no longer need employees to stop at gas stations to refill their vehicles. When corporate vehicles aren’t in use, PumpFive employees will stop and fill up their tanks.

“It’s been working really well for us,” Thompson said.

The company is currently serving the greater Milwaukee area, but she’s hoping to expand its reach. She says she’s currently seeking $65,000 in investment to buy more trucks.

“It’s time for us to start hiring more people,” she said. “The company has been doing really well, and we have to get ready to continue to scale this thing, to go outside the greater Milwaukee area.”

PumpFive purchases gas wholesale and sells it at comparable levels to local gas stations, according to the company website. Individual users pay a $20 monthly membership fee. The website also advertises a free weekly fill up for members.

Thompson says most of the company’s profit comes from business-to-business sales, but adds “the individual aspect of things is awesome, because there’s so much interest that we are able to still work in it and be successful.”

She expects most of the company’s future profits to come from servicing the companies, which “also helps us offer a good price to the individuals.”  

Thompson presented earlier in November at the Early Stage Symposium, put on by the Wisconsin Technology Council. 

–By Alex Moe
WisBusiness.com