Antsquare wants to bring back the human element that it says is lost with online shopping.
Founded in August 2014, the Seattle-based startup hosts a community marketplace that lets users find local items while supporting independent retailers in the process.
“We return the local, human element to retail without giving up the modern conveniences of digital commerce,” said CEO Daniel Ling.
Antsquare features an online map that shows what’s available in a given area. You can make purchases through the app and schedule a pickup time based on the seller’s availability. Anyone can set up a custom store to sell their items, and Antsquare handles the back-end logistics.
The 13-person company was originally founded in Vancouver, B.C., but moved its headquarters to Seattle earlier this year. Antsquare launched its app for iOS and Android last month.
We caught up with the Ling for this Startup Spotlight, a regular GeekWire feature.
Explain what you do so our parents can understand it: “We connect buyers and sellers within their own communities to skip the shipping and reconnect people in a way that has been lost in the digital age.”
Inspiration hit us when: “After a long and successful career in the field of commercial imports, Daniel Ling sought the opportunity to start a consumer business in North America. However, he encountered many of the difficulties present today in breaking into the business community. This fostered the creation of Antsquare, an application to remove the barriers of entry to local entrepreneurship and sales.”
VC, Angel or Bootstrap: “VC-funded. We will succeed one way or the other … we can just do it faster with funding.”
Our ‘secret sauce’ is: “The human element and sense of community we bring to mobile transactions.”
The smartest move we’ve made so far: “Partnering with local organizations so that you can shop their event and all their vendors from Antsquare before, during and after the event takes place.”
The biggest mistake we’ve made so far: “A wholesale order of items we thought we could use to pre-seed the app during our testing phase. Unfortunately, we ordered too much and now have several boxes of fashion items lying around the office. Anyone want a purse?”
Would you rather have Gates, Zuckerberg or Bezos in your corner: “The Zuck. He was tenacious about creating something to connect people. In a way we are doing the same thing, just bridging the gap between online and offline.”
Our favorite team-building activity is: “Working lunches. Mmm, sushi.”
The biggest thing we look for when hiring is: “Fresh mentality and someone hungry to do something big. Show us that you want more than just what we put in the job description!”
What’s the one piece of advice you’d give to other entrepreneurs just starting out: “Anyone can do it if you are willing to work hard and have thick skin. Pressure makes diamonds.”
