Whether you're stepping foot in D.C. for the first time or are more of a veteran with three years of college already under your belt, there's so much to explore here in the District. Which is likely why you're missing out on an introduction to some of the most brilliant minds in the area: the startups. They're the entrepreneurially-minded folks with a passion for innovation and a love for all things techie related. They are the future. It would serve you well to make connections with these men and women, the people that are shaping up to be some of the biggest movers and shakers in the region. We've picked out seven local startups every student should know about and listed them below, startups that you can benefit from as a consumer, but also intellectually. So start off the new academic year right and start utilizing these seven startups from the D.C. area:
1. RidePost
Whether you're homesick and need a little comfort food from mom and dad or want to head to a music festival one state over, RidePost is your best bet for traveling out of town. Launched by Marty Bauer, Robert Pearce, Blair Deckard, and Nik Budisavljevic, RidePost connects you with people who provide and need rides, a digital hitchhiker's dream come true. You connect your account with Facebook so any user can access your profile when organizing a trip, which helps keep away the creepers that I know you're worried about attracting. Rider and driver have to agree to the ride before booking it and after the trip is over, the rider and driver review each other for future RidePost users. As for the cost, well an average trip costs about $26 ($0.20 per mile, which makes for around $10 an hour). It's a safe, cheap alternative to any bus, flight, or train you'd normally use to get around.
2. Hinge
Leveraging your social networks to provide for romantic relationships, Hinge uses Facebook to introduce you to the single, local friends of friends your BFFs have failed to connect you to. Every day at noon Hinge shows you a bunch of potential matches and you choose whether to pass on the nerdy guy next door or favorite that former football player whose picture is just calling your name. Your interest is totally anonymous unless the feeling is mutual, which Hinge will make sure you are notified of via an intro email. Meet guys and gals that you might not typically see on campus by using Hinge. Your heart will be happy.
3. Snobswap
If you, like me, have a closet full of clothes but nothing to wear, Snobswap will be your new best friend. An online marketplace where you can buy, sell, and swap everything in your closet, Snobswap is the "eco-friendly way to shop designer labels." You list what items you want to get rid of on the site, search for the pieces you so covet, and can donate anything you want to charity as well. When it comes to your four years of college, you're bound to change your style at some point, so Snobswap is a great way to ensure you have killer clothing, accessories, and shoe options without paying an arm and a leg.
4. UrbanDelivery
A platform that allows you the opportunity to get anything in the city hand delivered in about an hour, Urban Delivery caters directly to the student without a car and tight on time...or just lazy. The average delivery cost is $7, with the service operating 24/7. Users can track their deliveries in real-time and even submit messenger ratings for future Urban Delivery participants. The startup is aiming to resurrect the traditional courier culture with a more modern twist that gives you the same satisfaction as room service, but isn't limited to hotel stayers.
5. Ruckus
If you go to school in D.C. you must have some interest in politics, right? So why not take Ruckus for a spin. A political dashboard that allows people to connect with others who care about the same issues as they do, Ruckus is looking toward the future as more people turn to their online networks to learn about politics rather than Party platforms. Take a quick that determines your positions on a vast variety of issues and then Ruckus recommends a series of different threads, groups and organizations that are directly aligned with your personal political opinions. This way when you can avoid losing friends on Facebook with your political rants and instead share your political inclinations with others who are just as passionate as you.
6. SnapDash
You're already addicted to Instagram and Twitter, so why not add SnapDash to the mix. A mobile photo-sharing platform that's "part social, part photo, part game," SnapDash generates hundreds of phrases for more creative, comical, improvised pictures. You're randomly served up unique scenarios in which those in the photo only have seconds to respond. You can share your new hilariously unpredictable photos via social media and let your followers get a kick out of what a weird person you really are.
7. 1776
Now that they're looking for college students to enter the Fall Intern Program, this is your chance to see the D.C. Tech crowd in action. An innovative startup incubator bent on connecting new businesses with the resources they need to find success, 1776 is a hub for startups with mentorship opportunities, access to capital, and even strategic corporate connections. Interns with a passion for entrepreneurship will get quite the experience working with some of the biggest names and companies in the startup world.
