Not everything in the development world is about building a new feature for an app that will help you take better photos. Here’s a look at an app that’s bringing real-world services into the app ecosystem.
How it works: After downloading the app, Exec users can hire someone to clean their apartment for a flat rate. They also can hire Execs to run errands and do chores, such as picking up supplies or assembling furniture.
The service is available in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, the Bay Area and Seattle, with plans to expand. The services can be booked online — through the Web or through the app — in a matter of minutes.
Who built it: Justin Kan, a serial entrepreneur and founder of other startups like Justin.TV, started the company with two other co-founders.
Why it’s popular: It’s a sort of Facebook approach — spinning off a standalone app to test its popularity, and building an array of multiple “verticals” much in the same way that Facebook has Poke and Messenger. Except instead of adding an additional feature on a website or app like Facebook, this is reducing the barrier to booking a service that is carried out in real life.
Cleaning was the first app spun out from the original Exec service as it was one of the highest-demand services, but it’s not hard to see the potential for many other kinds of “verticals” for a service.
The original errand-running service is also alive and well. Runners that are hired for jobs through Exec go through background checks before getting hired as part of the team, so there is at least some assurance that the service you’re booking is going to have a level of quality.
Here’s a full interview with Kan, co-founder of Exec, on Digits:
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