Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and you could easily settle for the same old flowers and romantic dinner. It's a winning combination, right? Right, but it may be time to mix things up a bit. Luckily, there are many Austin startups here to save you from yourself. They've got everything from date ideas to dinner reservations to gift inspiration.
For food & drink:
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Key Ingredient
If you prefer to stay in this Valentine's Day and cook, Key Ingredient shares recipes perfect for any occasion. You can organize recipes, follow friends and share the ones you like. Once you're picked something you know you both will love, hop on your tablet for an easy-viewing version ideal for cooking.
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Brewdrop
Pair your delicious homemade meal with beer, wine or liquor delivered right to your door. They guarantee speedy delivery from their mobile app and boast a wide selection of craft beer and liquor.
For the gift:
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Loop & Tie
For the busy or the clueless,
Loop & Tie offers a gifting system that allows gift-givers to select a dollar amount and a suggested product to give to recipients, allowing them wiggle room to select an alternative gift if the one chosen isn’t to their liking. Loop & Tie’s founders liken it to the experience of having a boss bring an employee into the store and telling them to choose whatever they’d like. With gift levels of $25, $50, $75 and $100, the app offers a wide range of tasteful options, from chocolate to cocktail shakers to LSTN headphones to donations to charity.
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Ice
Need a gift for her? Austin-based
Ice.com sells diamonds, jewelry, watches (mens too!), and other accessories online at competitive prices. Whether you want to spend a little or a lot, you'll easily find something on Ice she'll love.
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HomeAway
One of the world’s leading online marketplaces for the vacation rental industry,
HomeAway represents approximately 952,000 paid listings of vacation rental homes in 190 countries. Browse homes for rent in your dream vacation spot and start planning your next big trip together.
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Localeur
Localeur is a community of local insiders who want to help you experience local in their city. While review sites lack authenticity and local credibility, and travel guide books go out of date the moment they're published, Localeur gives you a curated look into what it's like to be a local. Use the site in Austin or on your next trip.
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RoverPass
For those of us who feel the need to get out into the great wide open and breathe some fresh air in the wilderness, a Google search doesn't always yield the greatest of results. Austin-based startup
RoverPass plans to fix that problem, and aims to make it easier to find and book the best campsites and RV parks. They're making the point of entry more accessible for first-time campers and simpler for people who want a more seamless way to discover new places where they can get away from it all. Renting via RoverPass takes vacation rentals to the next level.
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Front Gate Tickets
Head out to the next big concert or festival by purchasing tickets from
Front Gate. The Austin-based company is dedicated to providing superior service and showcasing the best show available.
Or, if you're not coupled up...
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Thread Dating
If you're in college, Thread shows you 10 people per day from your campus and lets you anonymously decide who you’d like to meet. If they like you back, they connect you. Check out a prospect’s interests and favorite activities to see how you match up. They even verify that every member is a student at your school, so you know you’re viewing real, relevant prospects. They launched exclusively at the University of Texas in 2014, and are expanding in 2015.
