The Spark of Genius Series highlights a unique feature of startups and is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here.
Name: WalkINQuick Pitch: Take the wait list with you and get notifications when your table is ready.
Genius Idea: Scan QR codes to save your place on multiple wait lists.
Proving that nine guys can successfully launch a startup in 48 hours on a bus, WalkIN is walking away from SXSW Interactive a big winner. The now one-week-old startup, which lets users save their places on restaurant wait lists by scanning a QR code at the door, shared the top prize in the StartupBus grand finale and is on its way to becoming a legitimate company.
The WalkIN experience is straightforward. Consumers use an iPhone or Android app to scan a QR code to reserve their place on the wait list. Merchants manage the queue via an iOS or HTML5 app, adjust wait times and manually add new guests to the list.
The first version of WalkIN launched at SXSW is QR code-only, but the founders now realize they need to add an SMS option to the service to reach all consumers.
Those excited by WalkIN’s promise to keep their place in the line should temper their enthusiasm for a more few weeks. Being just days old, WalkIN ins’t accessible to consumers just yet, though Shah explains that this will soon change. The startup is already talking to a handful of restaurants in New York, San Francisco and Sydney who are interested in testing the service in the coming weeks.
WalkIN’s idea is not entirely new, and there’s a smattering of competition in the virtual line space. But, with other startups such as Textaurant securing funding and no clear standout that owns the local merchant side of the equation, there’s plenty of opportunity here.
The young startup has fielded investment offers of its own, but has turned them down. WalkIN is going through a transition phase, according to Shah. Its unusual origins mean that team members must individually determine whether they want to peruse this full-time or keep their day jobs, he says.
Still, the startup is ready to graduate from the hyper-accelerator format of the StartupBus to a real-world environment. The team’s first order of business is to add new features, get merchants signed on and improve the overall user experience of the apps.
Series Supported by Microsoft BizSpark
Description:
Synacor is not your typical 9 to 5 workplace. Our award winning culture doesnt stop at flexible work hours and 25 cent vending machines. Jeans and t-shirts are typical office attire, even for the executives. Teamwork is an everyday occurrence, and is made easy with our new open workspaces. Our leadership team understands that the best results come from collaboration, so we hire the best and brightest and then let them do what they do best: create cutting-edge products and provide exemplary customer service. Synacor's headquarters is located along Buffalo's waterfront in the Erie Basin Marina. Taking a few minutes to enjoy the serenity of nature is as easy as walking 1,000 feet or so to the water. We even have a lakefront gazebo with wi-fi connection! And if thats not enough, Synacor pays 100% of health care premiums for employees AND dependents, offers stock option participation, a healthy bonus potential and a very generous paid time off policy. Working with some of the largest cable, telecom and satellite providers, Synacors products and online services reach over 25 million high-speed Internet subscribers worldwide. We are looking for great people to join our team and be given the freedom to do the work they were hired to do.
We are seeking a Web Architect who is a high-level technologist that will partner with the Product organization to help drive product innovation and specification, as well as provide guidance during development. They will be responsible for defining the technical architecture of Web applications. The ideal Web Architect has an extensive background in PHP application development in a high-volume environment.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Own the technical design of Web applications and write technical specifications, including information architecture, data design, and technical details
Work with product team to define software products by consulting during specification stage, performing research, developing prototypes or proofs-of-concept, participating in calls and vendor selection activities, and acting as an expert technical contributor.
Contribute to general development efforts by producing documentation and training materials and conducting training sessions.
Develop and maintain expertise in a wide range of industry technologies including cable/ISP billing and provisioning systems, end-to-end video distribution (IPTV) and DRM technologies, federated identity initiatives, and emerging Internet technologies. Generate proposals for the Executive team and conduct presentation/training sessions for Synacor staff. Participate in open source initiatives, standards organizations and industry groups
Work with the development teams to ensure implementation of the product vision.
Provide communication and integration point to other parts of Engineering, IT, and System organization including other architects to identify and address any issues or impact that projects might have on those areas
Other duties as assigned
What youll need to bring to the table:
Minimum of 5 years of professional experience building high traffic Rich Internet Web Applications
Deep knowledge and hands on experience with OO concepts (PHP, Python, Ruby, PERL)
Knowledge of CMS and content management strategies
Knowledge of XHTML/HTML, DHTML, XSLT, DOM, AJAX, JSON, JavaScript, JavaScript libraries, jQuery, YUI, Google Web ToolKit, CSS3 and HTML5, etc.
Great sense of integration design, page-less design, usability, and user experience
Significant experience in web analytics technologies and tools
Understanding of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) concepts
Extensive understanding of web standards and compliance (W3C, 508, etc)
Knowledge and experience in web performance optimization
What well bring to the table:
100% Company paid benefits (health, dental, vision) for all employees and eligible dependents
Competitive compensation package, including stock option grants (for eligible positions)
Award winning company culture
Casual dress and flexible environment
Generous paid time off
25 cent vending machines
Free Spot coffee, popcorn and cappuccino
Monthly company connections (get to know your co-workers)
The opportunity to make a difference!
We are seeking a Web Architect who is a high-level technologist that will partner with the Product organization to help drive product innovation and specification, as well as provide guidance during development. They will be responsible for defining the technical architecture of Web applications. The ideal Web Architect has an extensive background in PHP application development in a high-volume environment.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Own the technical design of Web applications and write technical specifications, including information architecture, data design, and technical details
Work with product team to define software products by consulting during specification stage, performing research, developing prototypes or proofs-of-concept, participating in calls and vendor selection activities, and acting as an expert technical contributor.
Contribute to general development efforts by producing documentation and training materials and conducting training sessions.
Develop and maintain expertise in a wide range of industry technologies including cable/ISP billing and provisioning systems, end-to-end video distribution (IPTV) and DRM technologies, federated identity initiatives, and emerging Internet technologies. Generate proposals for the Executive team and conduct presentation/training sessions for Synacor staff. Participate in open source initiatives, standards organizations and industry groups
Work with the development teams to ensure implementation of the product vision.
Provide communication and integration point to other parts of Engineering, IT, and System organization including other architects to identify and address any issues or impact that projects might have on those areas
Other duties as assigned
What youll need to bring to the table:
Minimum of 5 years of professional experience building high traffic Rich Internet Web Applications
Deep knowledge and hands on experience with OO concepts (PHP, Python, Ruby, PERL)
Knowledge of CMS and content management strategies
Knowledge of XHTML/HTML, DHTML, XSLT, DOM, AJAX, JSON, JavaScript, JavaScript libraries, jQuery, YUI, Google Web ToolKit, CSS3 and HTML5, etc.
Great sense of integration design, page-less design, usability, and user experience
Significant experience in web analytics technologies and tools
Understanding of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) concepts
Extensive understanding of web standards and compliance (W3C, 508, etc)
Knowledge and experience in web performance optimization
What well bring to the table:
100% Company paid benefits (health, dental, vision) for all employees and eligible dependents
Competitive compensation package, including stock option grants (for eligible positions)
Award winning company culture
Casual dress and flexible environment
Generous paid time off
25 cent vending machines
Free Spot coffee, popcorn and cappuccino
Monthly company connections (get to know your co-workers)
The opportunity to make a difference!