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: JoynIn
Quick Pitch: JoynIn is a daily deals site that combines the things you love about Yelp, Facebook, Foursquare and ScoutMob into one application that lives on the web and on your phone.
Genius Idea: JoynIn offers exclusive group deals to bars, coffee shops, museums and restaurants. This could mean a 50%-off offer good for nine friends or complimentary wine for two. Check-in on the app and get more points for later.
JoynIn is the daily deals site built for social butterflies. The website offers group coupons that cover you and your best pals, but also rewards you for planning the whole thing.
At first glance, JoynIn may look like just another local deals site. But, after signing in via Facebook, visitors will unlock sweet deals like "2-for-1 Well Drinks" and "Complimentary Chocolate Truffles" as well as a new kind of social experience.
Other than dishing out food deals, Joynin is a social network at heart. It allows users to plan outings directly on the website — Facebook invites, confirmations and all.
Simply state the occasion, where you would like to go, when, the venue, pick out an offer and you're done. A message space also delivers a reminder or directions on how to get somewhere.
The app integrates Yelp reviews, so you can check out customer-created reviews of places where you'll want to go — or skip. In addition to its Facebook aspect, JoynIn is also its own social platform. While using the web application, you'll have a profile where people can connect and see what your favorite spots are.
Another valuable social aspect is the chance to connect to servers, bartenders and owners of local businesses for tips on local specials and deals.
"JoynIn is about is rewarding people for going out with their friends," co-founder Brenton Gieser told Mashable. "So, we help people be more social in their social lives. They can go to bars and clubs and get rewarded for their influence."
The founders of the San Francisco-based startup wanted to help businesses leverage a sector they weren't readily tapping into. Businesses are focused on bringing in new customers, but weren't trying to bring in friends and family the employees were connected to. This is a huge network of potential customers, the JoynIn team believes.
"We also reward employees at these businesses — bartenders and servers," Geiser said. "We reward them for bringing in customers. It's a social layer on top of real social life."
Customers get deals and accumulate points the more often they check in. Employees get to build loyal customer bases and earn more tips. Owners can leverage the social network of the business' staff.
"We are building a platform that allows both customers and employees to get rewarded for their influence," he said.
JoynIn is currently only available in San Francisco on Android and iPhone markets. The app was launched in October 2011 and the team says they will be expanding to the rest of California and other parts of the West Coast soon.
There are about 60 to 100 deals available at a time. That number will certainly round up if the app grows in popularity as planned. For now, though, the team at JoynIn hopes to build up their community of loyal followers rather than focus on numbers.
The startup sees a wide open space for what they are providing in the deeply saturated mobile deals market.
"We are different, we're not based on a one-time push based on the scarcity of an offer," he said, comparing the product to LivingSocial or GroupOn. "We are more business friendly. Our overall goal is to really allow each person we call this the social business circle — business, consumer, employee — all get value from each other."
The startup hopes to boost its engagement level and ring in about 25,000 new users in the next few months. Their business model is based on a small fee the company accrues for every person who enters and purchases something at a venue.
"Before people are going out we would love for them to find awesome offers," Geiser said. "That is the main thing we are working to build."
Image courtesy of Flickr, pinksherbet
Series Supported by Microsoft BizSpark
The Spark of Genius Series highlights a unique feature of startups and is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark, a startup program that gives you three-year access to the latest Microsoft development tools, as well as connecting you to a nationwide network of investors and incubators. There are no upfront costs, so if your business is privately owned, less than three years old, and generates less than U.S.$1 million in annual revenue, you can sign up today.
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