Clipboards are so last century.
That’s the message Jocelyn Loo, president and founder of Los Angeles-based
, wants to send with her new company. Pronounced like “guests,” Loo’s creation is a mobile and web-based application designed to make life easier for event organizers, venues and attendees.
An avid event-goer, Loo was inspired to start Gjests after she waited over an hour to get into a Red Bull event two years ago. She noticed the venue staff was checking each of the thousands of guests in with a clipboard.
“The whole point of us creating this app is to not have people use clipboards anymore,” Loo said. “It takes time and you can’t really store your data. It’s very unorganized.”
The free version of Gjests launched in private beta last summer. Under the basic plan, users can create digital guest lists containing up to 50 people and a list can be shared on two devices updated in real-time. When a guest list is created, Gjests automatically sends the invitees a confirmation QR code. A doorperson receives a notification as soon as a guest is added to the list, ensuring that even last-second attendees are checked-in as quickly as possible.
So far, more than 60 clients use Gjests. Loo said many of those clients are music venues and clubs, though unexpected clients like schools and sports leagues have shown interest.
She said the beta period ends in a couple weeks, at which time the Gjests platform will be available to the public.
All-In-One Solution
Gjests began with the controlled beta so the company could gather feedback and offer the best service possible at the time of its public launch. What they realized over eight months is that Gjests has a chance to be an all-in-one solution for event organizers and venues.
The reason entities still use clipboards, Loo said, is that similar products are too specialized or expensive. The team at Gjests believes it can distinguish itself from competition by providing an affordable, all-encompassing solution to guest management.
The startup will soon offer ticketing as a service, charging $1 per ticket in addition to a 2.9 percent and 30-cent transaction fee. Even under the monthly and enterprise plans, Gjests does not require users to commit to long-term contracts. Such flexibility gives Gjests another boost over similar apps, Loo said.
Another feature Gjests is set to roll out soon is its offline mode, which will allow users at venues with weak Internet service to download the necessary data before going offline.
Busy times ahead
With the public launch approaching and the rollout of new features imminent, the team at Gjests is busy. Beyond operations, Loo said the team recently began to raise an initial round of funding and is eyeing about $800,000. The fact that Gjests is hiring comes as no surprise.
Loo said she is looking to add backend and frontend developers to Gjests’ downtown office, which hosts nine employees. She believes people are more productive when they're happy and she's worked hard to cultivate a culture where each employee feels they matter.
“Everyone works together. Everyone has a say about the products and what they think,” Loo said. “We value everyone’s opinion.”
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