KartMe Blog - Most recent posts

If you're not quite ready yet, that's ok!  With KartMe, you can start early or plan up until the last minute.  KartMe gives you a free clipper that helps you collect finds on any website, whether a dress on etsy.com or a hairdo on TMZ.com.  Here are some hot dresses in MizzDressy's Prom Dress Kart:

You can hide these looks from mom as you think about it, or show 'em to friends for a second opinion.  You can even bring your collection of pictures to the salon and show the stylist how you want your hair!  KartMe's iPhone app is an Apple "Staff Pick" as anything you do on KartMe.com is instantly available on your iPhone. 

And we weren't joking about the hairstyle's.  Check out these beautiful hairdo's in AllieF's Hairstyle Kart:

So, what are you waiting for?  It's never to late to start kart'n and make sure you look fab for your prom.

Sign up to start kart'n your prom look for free!

Members keep finding great ways to share their taste, save time and save money with KartMe.  From books to wines, we've got a way you should use KartMe.  Here are 10 of our favorite uses for Karts.

1. Share your travel tips

Got a friend headed to New Orleans or Charlottesville?  Make a Kart for them. With a click of a button, they'll have your Kart on their phone along with maps and your notes.  And you won't need to save that email in your inbox.  Discover tips for New York, Los Angeles, and other popular spots by browsing topics.

2. Backup a list of links

Find a recipe you'd like on your phone?  Hate the last time your browser crashed and you lost all your folders?  Use KartMe to keep links in neat lists you can use at home, work and on-the-go.  

3. Create your universal wishlist

Finding cosmetics on Sephora, wedding gifts on Etsy or gadgets on CNET?  Keep all your finds in one place.  KartMe's Save It For Later technology recognizes products from popular sites like Walmart, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble and start finding you deals. 

4. Plan your wedding

Invitations, dresses, centerpieces, inspirations, gifts, honeymoon ideas, the list of things you'll want to research for your wedding goes on and on.  KartMe gives you one place for all your wedding finds from any website.  You can share your list with mom and friends to get their thoughts too. 

5. Remember book and movie titles

Finding books on The New York Times online?  Hearing about Oscar-worthy movies at dinner?  Just use your button or KartMe mobile to collect recommendations wherever you are.  KartMe will automatically put reviews at your fingertips.  Never forget a title at the store or theater.

6. Know which wine to order

There are an estimated 10,000 distinct wine varieries -- and that's just the type of grape!  Add in regions and years, and it's a lot to remember.  Keep your favorite wines in lists that you can use at the store or restaurant. 

7. Never forget gift ideas

Hear about something that would be perfect for that special someone?  Discover a toy or DVD perfect for your niece...in two years?  Keep gift ideas organized with Karts and reduce clutter on your desk or in your inbox.

8. Collect furniture finds

Researching couches or kitchen tables online?  Create a Kart of your finds from DesignWithinReach, Macy's, Ikea, Crate & Barrel, Craiglists and more.  Discuss lists of links alongside pictures--it's nice to have it all in one spot instead of a long email.  And your spouse can easily see what you're finding.

9. Organize your apartment search

Researching on Trulia, Craigslist, broker's websites, and more?  Clip links and take notes on them.  It's great to be able to add the price and address, and have that information at your fingertips at home and work.  Stop sending your broker all those one off emails and stay organize.d

10. Get deals on electronics, books and toys

Let KartMe find you savings!  KartMe uses smart technology that looks at what you're saving, and then starts searching for deals.  Create a Kart of links from Amazon, Newegg, CNET, Barnes & Noble, Wal Mart, Target, and others stores. Sit back, relax, and let the deals come to you.  Members have saved money on Canon Cameras, Kids Toy Cameras, printers and more.

What are you waiting for?  Start your Kart and start saving time and money!

There is money for startups in New York.  In fact, there are so many sources KartMe's team will never be able to spend time talking to all of them.  I’ve previously written about what to do during your first meeting and how to close.  Perhaps more importantly, you need to know (a) who anyone can reach out to; and (b) who YOU should contact. 

Who exists

In NYC, once you get beyond friends and family, I group the seed investors into four types.

1.    The successful entrepreneur.  Believe it or not, there have been many start-ups in NYC that have had exits in the past 10 years, both to public companies and private equity firms.  Perhaps more importantly, there are many successful entrepreneurs who have decided to live in the tri-state are after their companies had exits.  These people may not (yet?) have formal seed funds, but just look for companies that were acquired or bought out by private equity firms.  Some examples that come to mind are Fabrice Grinda of Zingy and OLX,  Brian O'Kelly of RightMedia, Scott Kurnit of about.com, Arthur Shorin of Topps, Stephen Messer of Linkshare and more.

2.    The veteran financial investor.  For a long time, New York’s main industry has been finance.  The city is filled with people who have been managing portfolios or doing deals.  These people are very familiar with looking at deals.  These investors know terms inside and out.  The good news is they are very used to looking at deals and making investments across industries.   In fact, a private equity firm could review over 500 businesses a year.  They’ve probably considered investing in everything from movies to highways.  Key targets for a start are Managing Directors of basically anything from a private equity firm to investment banking team.

3.    The seed fund.  It seems every week a new fund is popping up.   Typically they’re comprised of individuals who fit into one of the three categories above.  The good news about a fund is they typically have people focused on evaluating opportunities.  They also seem to be good at getting press.  Examples in this group in include:  Dogpatch Labs, FoundersCollective, and Rose Tech Ventures.  See 10 NYC seed investors.

4.    The industry consultant / executive / service provider.  I heard these folks existed. I occasionally see them on company’s advisory boards.  They include McKinsey consultants, lawyers, media and publishing executives, and more.  One example is Ed Zimmerman of law firm Lowenstein Sandler.  I haven’t had much success in this category.  Perhaps few of them have enough time and money to look at new deals.  So, watch out for these being a time sink.

Who to contact

So, if these are types of investors, where should you look for money?  My advice is to go where you can get the best introduction and the highest likelihood of industry fit with the decision maker.

A warm introduction is very useful.  It provides instant credibility.  At this stage, there is little due diligence an investor can do.  So, prove your quality  by meeting them through a warm intro, showing them a product, and hopefully showing them measurable progress over time.  Start networking through friends or go to events. Check LInkedIN.  Spend time working on this--it does matter.

Industry fit with the decision maker is crucial.  If investors aren’t used to businesses that have your distribution channel, business model, or capital needs, then there isn’t a fit.  Building an data product that’s sold to professionals? Contact Mark Gerson.  Got a real time play? Talk to Betaworks. 

Of course, you shouldn't just take money from anyone.  That said, what are you waiting for?  Start trying to get a warm introduction to the partner with the right industry fit.

Related:

Kart:   Browse 10 NYC Seed Funds

Blog:   Raising Seed Funds in NYC: 5 Lessons Learned

Twitter:   Stay in the loop by following KartMe on Twitter.

Do you have a list of restaurants, recipes or travel tips?  Share your list with friends. Get started for free in 60 seconds!

Banish the Friday-afternoon, what-to-do-this-weekend blues with KartMe!

Use KartMe to find, save and share the best stuff to do around town.

Need ideas?  Check out recommendations for:

• Los Angeles:  Things to See in LA by alexcooley 
• Nashville: Things to do in Nashville by MetaKitty
• NYC:   Things to Do in NYC by blovero, Comedy Venues by acrocksyo, or Gallery Openings or piperoverbaugh
• Washington, D.C.:  DC Weekend Trip by Maria

Every city has awesome things to see and do - save them in a Kart!  There's no better way to keep track of recommendations, favorites from search results or random things that you come across on the web.  With everything in once place, it's simple to share with your friends or reference from your phone when you're on the go!

Give us the scoop on your city with a Kart of your favorite activies - New York, Portland, San Francisco, Miami and everywhere in between, we'd love to see them!  Share your local favorites in 30 seconds on KartMe!