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YC-Backed Bluesmart Raises $2M for Its Self-Tracking Suitcase

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Re: YC-Backed Bluesmart Raises $2M for Its Self-Tracking Suitcase

#11

Post by dfuego »

xxyyzz3d wrote: post #9
dfuego wrote: post #2

Here one of the co-founders. Happy to answer any questions about our company and technology

Say your luggage is misrouted or mishandled. Does knowing the GPS coordinates actually help? In the end you still need to get the airline / airport to properly process and return the luggage. I somehow don't imagine that there exists a process now to get that information to the right places. Knowing that your luggage is stuck in London when you're in Tokyo doesn't really un-ruin your vacation, so I'm not sure about h…

It will help the airline know where the bag is, and ideally get it back to you faster. At the moment they don't have simple ways to know that information, which is crazy.

Re: YC-Backed Bluesmart Raises $2M for Its Self-Tracking Suitcase

#12

Post by dfuego »

Animats wrote: post #8

There are at least a half dozen other suitcase tracking devices. Here's one you can buy right now: http://www.amazon.com/Trakdot-Luggage-Tracker/dp/B00KL3ZA4M One that connected to Uber might be useful. If your luggage comes in on a different flight, it automatically calls a Uber slave to deliver it to wherever you are.

Yes, there are several devices that accomplish the tasks of the individual features that our product includes. But there were no solution with everything integrated in one single product. The Uber idea is great. We actually thought of something similar. Hopefully we can make it happen soon

Re: YC-Backed Bluesmart Raises $2M for Its Self-Tracking Suitcase

#13

Post by dfuego »

djb_hackernews wrote: post #5
dfuego wrote: post #2

Here one of the co-founders. Happy to answer any questions about our company and technology

Few questions. First off, also a Startup Chile alum that was building a service in the travel industry. Congrats on WeHostels. This technology obviously has use cases outside of tracking luggage, I'm curious if those use cases were included in your YC app and/or if it came up during the interview. Will the carry on need to be turned off during takeoff and landing? Do you have an SLA? Like, what if I take it somewhere…

Thanks!! Startup Chile mafia ftw. Yes, we included all the features and future ideas in our YC application. In the interview we talked about the vision for the company and I think the partners liked it. Although to be honest I felt that the interview didn't go well at all. Yes, we have a system for auto-turn-off at take-off. When there isn't service we will be able to tap into a bluetooth network if available. If not it will wake up and send location as soon as it can. We think the lock, id and location tracking will actually provide more security against any criminals.

Re: YC-Backed Bluesmart Raises $2M for Its Self-Tracking Suitcase

#14

Post by dfuego »

state wrote: post #7
dfuego wrote: post #2

Here one of the co-founders. Happy to answer any questions about our company and technology

It seems really likely that an existing and huge luggage brand could also do this. What's protecting you guys from that?

First off we have filed for patents for the main aspects of the invention. But most importantly, we think that they will have a harder time because they don't have a software and electronics expertise internally. Plus, we think it will take a "startup ethos" of rapid iteration and closeness to the customer to get the product right.

Re: YC-Backed Bluesmart Raises $2M for Its Self-Tracking Suitcase

#15

Post by dfuego »

mjffjm wrote: post #4
dfuego wrote: post #2

Here one of the co-founders. Happy to answer any questions about our company and technology

was the IG campaign pre or post acceptance into YC?

When we sent the YC application we hadn't launch the campaign yet. By the time we had the interview with the partners the campaign had been live for some days and was starting to take off. It definetly helped there to show that we were "making something people want".

Re: YC-Backed Bluesmart Raises $2M for Its Self-Tracking Suitcase

#19

Post by jasimq »

dfuego wrote: post #18
jasimq wrote: post #17

Maybe I missed something, but how does the suitcase communicate with your services? Isn't it limited by bluetooth range?

It's not just Bluetooth. We will be publishing the details of our full tracking solution soon

It'll be interesting to know. You can't make calls from the plane to transmit location. You can however, do it when you detect the luggage has landed, based on altitude and/or airport coordinates.

Re: YC-Backed Bluesmart Raises $2M for Its Self-Tracking Suitcase

#20

Post by xxyyzz3d »

dfuego wrote: post #11
xxyyzz3d wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Say your luggage is misrouted or mishandled. Does knowing the GPS coordinates actually help? In the end you still need to get the airline / airport to properly process and return the luggage. I somehow don't imagine that there exists a process now to get that information to the right places. Knowing that your luggage is stuck in London when you're in Tokyo doesn't really un-ruin your vacation, so I'm not sure about h…

It will help the airline know where the bag is, and ideally get it back to you faster. At the moment they don't have simple ways to know that information, which is crazy.

Yeah, I think the keyword there is ideally, because it's really hard to know how much of a difference it actually makes.
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