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As the holiday shopping season reaches a fever pitch and the procrastinators among us hustle to get everything crossed off our lists, a few Austin-based startups offer some unique and thoughtful options for those of us still looking for that certain something. Here's a look at some of the best gifts available from (and for!) local tech entrepreneurs.
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For the sentimentalist
Offering a fantastic gift idea for grandparents, newlyweds and best friends, Weeva compiles stories and photographs from a number of loved ones and compiles them all into a beautiful, art-quality book. The concept takes scrapbooking to a whole new level with the polish and panache of a professionally-published book, and all customers have to do is gather the content; Weeva does the hard part and handles the design.
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For the homeowner
Everyone's got someone on our holiday list who's house-proud and at least mildly obsessed with all things home-related. Plum is a connected home solution that allows total control of a home's lighting, room by room, all from a single phone. Functioning as both a theft deterrent and an energy saver, the programmable system allows users to watch their utilities' consumption and leave thieves in the dark with the simple swipe of a screen.
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For the fitness-minded
With its weighted vests, belts, ropes and weight training bundles, Hyperwear has plenty of options for folks who are already making their fitness-centric resolutions for the new year. Men's Health gave the brand its "best weight vest" blessing, and as a holiday bonus, the company's currently offering free shipping and discounts on orders over $49.
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And for wellness-oriented giftees who want to keep an eye on their daily steps, heartrate, calories and more, Wearables has an exhaustive selection of, well, obviously, wearables, from Jawbone, Fitbit and iWatch to Austin's own Atlas fitness tracker.
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For the beer aficionado
Calling itself "the world's smartest personal brewery," BrewBot delights the hops & grain enthusiast in your life by using sensor technology to track and automate the brewing process. Bolstered by a successful Kickstarter campaign and gaining recongition via Fast Company, New Scientist, NBC News and the Discovery Channel, the BrewBot is available in three models at three pricepoints, ranging from $2,800 to $4,200.
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For the musically inclined
If you've got a musician in your life who could use a little help amassing the same gear as their favorite artists, Equipboard is the perfect place to investigate the sort of gift they'd love. The crowdsourced platform is the world's largest database of information about artists and the equipment they use, from Jimi Hendrix's favorite guitars to Chromeo's studio gear of choice. The site offers links to third-party sellers, connecting you with the perfect gifts for the music-makers on your list.
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For nearly everyone
Everybody loves a great pair of sunglasses. With nearly 3,800 pairs to choose from, FramesDirect offers something for everyone looking for a perfect pair of shades. And to top it off, the site also has more than 8,500 eyeglass frames for the bespectacled people on your list. Whether it's a gift certificate or an actual pair of frames, the site's product range is broad, featuring dozens of designer brands to choose from.
