With past innovative start-ups such as Myspace, eBay, Match.com, Craigslist and the almighty Facebook, it seems certain that a new, fresh internet stie is far from breaching the competitive surface.
But Kyle Banuelos@@http://directory.uoregon.edu/telecom/directory.jsp?p=findpeople%2Ffind_results&m=student&d=person&b=name&s=Kyle+Banuelos@@ would beg to differ.
Banuelos, a University senior, began working for the online company Zaarly @@http://www.zaarly.com/@@less than a month ago. Now as the University of Oregon campus representative, Banuelos strives to bring cutting-edge technology to campus and integrate it into our lifestyles, or at least into our lingo.
But if you aren’t exactly sure what Zaarly is, you aren’t alone.
Zaarly is essentially a website where students on your campus can post to their peers what they want, when they need it and how much you are willing to pay, Banuelos explains.
Unlike Craigslist and eBay, you post what you are looking for, not what you are trying to sell.
Banuelos used examples such as needing a coffee in class, wanting to buy a certain textbook, a ticket to a football game or even to borrow a computer charger when you forgot yours at home. The user can post their need, add a price and a time frame.
The company was created, planned and pitched in 54 hours last May at Start-Up Weekend in Los Angeles, Calif@@http://www.socaltech.com/zaarly_started_from_la_startup_weekend_goes_live/s-0035797.html@@. It officially launched at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas@@http://sxsw.com/@@, said Angela Meyer@@Having trouble finding co-director reference http://www.linkedin.com/pub/angela-meyer/26/5b6/4b4@@, co-director of Zaarly’s university program. It debuted to the web only four and a half months ago.
If an item on the site is reported as offensive or unnecessary, Zaarly administrators flag it and take down the post, ensuring nothing seedy is going on within the site.
After the post, people make offers, and the poster decides whose offer he or she wants to accept. After the seller and buyer have verified the transaction, they can call or text each other with an anonymous computer-generated number Zaarly provides, for security and privacy, or message through the site.
Then they can arrange a meeting place to exchange the item and decide if they want to swap the money in person or through credit card on a Zaarly account online.
“The site is all about trust, helping your peers and making money doing it,” Banuelos said.
And unlike other websites where the exchange of the good is generally done over the Internet and shipped to a location, the only way to get your good is through a face-to-face exchange.
“On sites like eBay, you don’t know the buyer or the seller,” Banuelos said. “With Zaarly, you are making a personal connection.”
Banuelos actually used Zaarly to attempt a meeting with the CEO Bo Fishback@@http://ideamensch.com/bo-fishback/@@. Banuelos posted he would be in San Fransisco and wanted to have coffee with Fishback. Banuelos’s asking price was $11.11.
Unfortunately, Fishback replied that he was out of town, but Banuelos grabbed his attention and soon after landed his internship.
Zaarly originally launched in 20 college campuses nationwide, including Marquette, UC Berkeley and USC. The site is primarily marketed towards college students but is open to community members as well. Students are encouraged to use their University e-mail address. Zaarly has an iPhone and Android app as well.
“College kids are always in need of something,” Meyers said. “And Zaarly is an easy way to make money without having to lock down a certain schedule.”
Zaarly’s hype has reached celebrities such as Ashton Kutcher and ESPN reporter Jenn Brown.@@http://www.jennbrown.com/@@
At Oregon’s football game versus the Cal, Brown posted on Zaarly that she wanted a chai tea before kick off.
For every post, the proceeds went to her non-profit organization, the Carrie Brown Foundation. She wanted the posters to explain why they thought they were the biggest Duck fans. Not only did the winner earn $25, they also got to deliver Brown’s chai and meet her in person.
As for the future of Zaarly, Banuelos hopes its presence at the University will transform it from another start-up website to a common campus catchphrase.
Zaarlying may become another common verb in the collegiate community.
Zaarly allows students to ask for, fulfill favors in exchange for money
Daily Emerald
October 11, 2011
0
More to Discover