This is the first series of posts in what will be a monthly series of Q&A sessions with the founders of companies presenting at Denver New Tech. This month's Denver New Tech was on Thursday, February 21 at 7:00pm at Galvanize. For more information on the event, check the event posting or visit the BDNT website.
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TAGster CEO Josh Pierce gives Built in Denver a sneak peek at what will be presented tonight and what the team is up to right now.
What’s your elevator pitch?
TAGster is a free service that gives lost objects, people and pets a way back home through the use of uniquely ID'd tags and a back-end system that instantly notifies the owner. TAGster emergency tags give first responders an incredibly easy way to see a person’s medical profile and instantly notify their contacts. In either case, TAGster gives honest people the simple tools they need to do the right thing. The company generates revenue by powering this technology for major brands who use the TAGster system to add value to their existing products and services.
How did TAGster come about?
The passion for this company started after the CEO, Josh Pierce, sold his last company and spent about half a year as a full-time dad. He started noticing just how many things get lost every day, from coats to bags and electronics to kids themselves. He decided that brands needed a white label solution to add a lost-and-found technology to their existing products and services, which would not only provide extra value to their customers, but could also act as a lead generation/customer registration tool for that brand.
Tell us about some recent successes at TAGster.
TAGster has raised $50,000 in a family-and-friends round, went live to the public with an initial beta version in September 2012 and currently has just under 400 active members with five paying brands (including Subaru and Boulder Running Company).
We recently signed a deal with Boulder Running Company and plan to roll out the systems in their stores in about two months. We are actively approaching other brands in a variety of industries including electronics, automotive, pets, luggage, action sports and general promotional items.
How can Denver’s startup community help?
The best thing the startup community can do right now is: 1) pass out free tags to as many people as possible, 2) use the system and provide honest feedback to improve its performance and features, and 3) provide introductions to potential brand partners who could utilize TAGster products in combination with their existing products or services.
Follow TAGster on Twitter at @TAGsterInc.
