'TIYO' A new device to help you escape awkward social situations
by Startacus Admin
Monetising social awkwardness seems all the rage it appears.
Last week we highlighted the growing popularity of My Invisible Girlfriend / Boyfriend and only yesterday we spotted news of a crowdfunding project that again picked up on the social awkwardness that can come about through dating, being in a boring meeting, or simply being in the midst of an embarrassing conversation.
TIYO (THIS-IS-YOUR-OUT) is a device that helps you escape awkward situations. One press of a small secretly hid button and bingo - seconds later you get a phone call to escape said situation. An immediate escape and a get out of jail card so to speak!
As Ivan Lukianchuk, Founder of TIYO explained via their crowdfunding page on IndieGoGo:
“I decided to bring this cool idea into reality after hearing story after story from my wife Sarah about a rep at work who just won’t stop talking. He’s so bad that when he enters someone’s office other employees have to take notice and if he doesn't leave after 10 minutes then they must call the victim so they can carry on with their day! When a one line email would suffice, this guy will talk to you for 30 minutes.
As an entrepreneur I do a lot of pitching and networking and I often find myself stuck in conversations with people that go nowhere, but have no clear exit. We realized that there are so many things a simple phone call can solve in both a business and personal setting that it was a no-brainer! I started talking to people about the idea and they thought it was a blast!”
For all its potential glory, check out their pitch video below.
This Is Your Out -TIYO
It’s a fab novel idea, but don’t be fooled by the rather comical nature of the product. In an age where real life social P’s and Q’s are being replaced by online ‘likes’, ‘swipes’ and five second chats, it comes as no surprise to see TIYO being pitched for £100k worth of investment. That and the fact that Ivan is a successful entrepreneur with experience of raising over $300k on a previous startup.
We love great ideas and startups - our own Collaboration and showcasing area on Startacus is proof of that (subtle plug of ourselves done) and whilst we ain't necessarily a barometer of what's hot and what's not, we encourage you to take a gander at TIYO’s IndieGoGo page, and if nothing else follow their progress. We reckon they’re right on the button with this one :)
If you like what you see here on Startacus, why not become a member of our growing community? It's free! And you'll get all this - exclusive access to our Business Toolkit, discounts and offers galore for your business via our member only business deals, the chance to network and connect with loads of fellow self-starters, and maybe even become our celebrated 'Self-Starter of the Week' and tell the world your startup tale! Join right here for free
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.
SupplyCompass, a design-to-delivery sourcing platform that provides an efficient and sustainable solution for global supply chains, agrees a £1.5m seed fund deal.
Apprenticeship startup WhiteHat raises $16m Series A led by Index Ventures and prepares to expand its alternative to university.
How can women effectively challenge gender bias in the workplace? Hayley Mackenzie from Boiler Guide, shares here thoughts and experience.
The app that's aiming to help us to take the first step in reversing climate change...
The startup that's providing Nursing Home residents with additional meaningful social interactions provided by local people!
Some easy and inexpensive ways to make your start-up more secure.
The vidiCREW app is on a mission to show your wedding through the eyes of your loved ones. How does it work?
The Startup Leadership Program continues to grow, inviting applications for its 9th London cohort to join the six-month program.
The SaaS startup that helps training providers make the most of their customer feedback
If you're looking for a suitable location to launch your next UK business, Manchester deserves a spot on your shortlist; here’s why.
Published on: 16th July 2014
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.
- Startup Leadership Program invites applications for its 9th London cohort 12th Jul 2019 The Startup Leadership Program continues to grow, inviting applications for its 9th London cohort to join the six-month program.
- Latest Zinc Company Builder Programme to transform the quality of later life 9th Jul 2019 Do you want to build a new purpose-driven startup with support from a world-class network of experts?
- HealthTech startups sought for Greater Manchester Future of Health Challenge 4th Jul 2019 The Greater Manchester Future of Health Challenge is on the hunt for innovative healthtech startups and scaleups...
- Seedrs FMCG Accelerator Programme to help 10 UK-based FMCG businesses 3rd Jul 2019 Seedrs have launched their first FMCG Accelerator Programme dedicated to helping up to 10 UK-based FMCG businesses raise capital.
