The Pitch

Startup Name *	Garagesocial
What problem are you solving?	Garagesocial works to create an all-in-one space for auto enthusiasts – it looks to solve the issue of fragmentation that many sites and forums have. Much like how roughly 10 years ago, you had a variety of ways to describe yourself as a person line (Myspace, blogs, personal websites) every system presented the same information but in completely different ways. Presentation was the first problem, but the bigger problem was fragmentation. Everything was everywhere. Then, Facebook came along.We envision a similar concept for the auto industry – where auto enthusiasts or car buyers – could just go to one location to present their vehicles, do their research and communicate with people who have the same interests. True, there are countless sites dealing with the auto industry but each is geared to do one particular thing whether it be buying, selling, presenting or blogging. There are not any sites available that allow for everything – and any that do exist, are extremely outdated in system and design.
What is your solution?	By creating a consistent and full featured system to properly showcase vehicles online. Essentially, creating a place where individuals can showcase their vehicles using the most advanced presentation system on the web, discover new parts and accessories, network with local enthusiasts and ask experts questions. Our developers are currently working on adding an area for blogging, commerce and bringing in the Connected Car aspect.
Why is this a great opportunity?	Garagesocial is currently working on advanced features that will change the auto industry online – rather than having all these blogs, sites, forums, car dealers, buyers and sellers and enthusiasts spread across the web – Garagesocial plans to bring all of these aspects together with beautiful and snappy presentation, sound that allows users to get a glimpse of the engine, a sophisticated gallery system that will include video, an area to describe all the custom parts of their vehicles for those who have project cars or modified vehicles, and a timeline to organize service repairs or work performed.Users can uncover similar cars near them, a community of auto enthusiasts and experts, and receive deals and promotions for service or gadgets on your vehicle.
Target Market	The collector, the enthusiasts, car dealers, manufacturers and consumers.
How will you make money?	Transaction fees, targeted ads, and detailed non identifiable meta data on user demographics which can be generated and made accessible to manufacturers for a fee.
Founders Names	Maxime Rassi
Website	http://www.garagesocial.com
What type of funding has the company received	Bootstrapped/self funded

 

Startup88 Verdict

Normally I run a mile when I hear an entrepreneur talking about how they are going to build a social network and take on Facebook or Twitter.

I get so tired of clueless would-be copycats telling me how their yet to be even prototyped social network solves some non problem that they think is important. Most of them think it can be run on a shared hosting plan, they have no idea about virality, conversion, scalability or any of the other things that are prerequisites to play in this game, its a joke and I cant tell you how often I hear it. The good news is they almost never build anything so no harm done.

So usually I dismiss talk of a new social network out of hand, in this case I am willing to make an exception for GarageSocial.

There are very few niches where it makes sense to have an entirely separate infrastructure and app, however cars and the people who love them may be one of those niches.

People who love their cars are very passionate, they visit forums, ask advise, talk to others, publish photos, none of which is really focused enough or appropriate on a social network like Facebook.

CEO Maxime Rassi tells me they have initial traction with 3000 people signed up in the last few days and the site is still in closed beta with a small quantity of revheads starting to test it out.

I think if these guys can encourage the worlds car lovers to get off the crappy 10 year old text oriented bulletin boards with nasty links to images that arent actually on the site, I think they have a shot at building a business that is highly monetisable.

Frankly most of the car nutter forum experiences are a shit experience, Garagesocial looks gorgeous and I think they have a shot at the title.