IU Grad Launching Kickstarter For Luggage Startup
The co-founder of New York-based SkyValet says the company’s soon-to-launch product could be a breakthrough in the luggage industry. SkyValet was co-founded by Eric Goldner, a graduate of the Indiana University Kelley School of Business who also serves as chief operating officer. The company will next month launch a Kickstarter for its luggage that Goldner says will include three key and unique features.
In an interview for The INnovators with Dr. K, Goldner says they didn’t want to create an ordinary luggage company. "We want to create a lifestyle luggage brand, one that people could depend on and one that they want to talk about and show their friends."
Goldner says the luggage features Shark Wheels, which are designed to roll over rough surfaces more efficiently, as well as a patent-pending magnetic front pocket and a patent-pending wireless phone charger. He says the luggage will debut next month at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and the Kickstarter campaign will kick off during the event.
Dr. K provided Goldner with a "prescription" in the form of his "Three Cs" for new innovations moving to the viable venture stage:
- Credibility: Further education of consumers to establish viability as needed luggage
- Customers: Demonstrate viability by selling the luggage to actual target market
- Capital: Focus on the viable sources of capital that can move you to the next level which might include strategic partners with a reputation.
You can learn more about SkyValet by clicking here.
Donald "Dr. K" Kuratko is the director of the Indiana University Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and monthly contributor to Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick.