Remote Garage, a startup business specializing in valet self-storage services, recently launched in San Antonio. The company received a $25,000 investment last December from the Geekdom Fund, after initially being turned down.
The Geekdom Fund was designed to financially support members of Geekdom, a co-working concept designed to bring entrepreneurs, technologists and developers together in a collaborative, supportive environment. Geekdom has co-working space in San Antonio and San Francisco.
The funding group ultimately decided to support Remote Garage after co-founder Jaakko Piipponen impressed the group with his knowledge of the storage market and a beta version of the valet-style service, according to Cole Wollak, manager of the Geekdom Fund.
Similar to other recent startups like Boxbee Simple Urban Storage, MakeSpace Labs Inc. and Storrage Inc., Remote Garage offers customers pickup, delivery and bin-storage services through an online platform.
“They pay by the box,” Piipponen said. “We pick up, store their stuff securely and let them monitor it online, and they can get their things back whenever they want.” The company charges $7 per bin per month, with the average customer storing five boxes, according to the source.
The service is targeted at residents who do not have enough space to store their belongings but not enough items to fill a self-storage unit. Piipponen is working directly with apartment-leasing agents to reach his target customer and has formal agreements with 50 apartment complexes in San Antonio, the source reported.
“Its appeal lies in the fact that it does not require you to make a big commitment in terms of rental length or amount of space you rent,” said customer Mei Butler, a senior at Trinity University.
Sources:
- Geekdom: Website
- Geekdom Fund: Website
- Silicon Hills News: Remote Garage Stores Clutter by the Box
