Rob Matthews is a self-described lazy man. The 2008 graduate of Miami (OH) University somehow saw opportunity in his deficiency, and became founder, CEO and president of AirRun, which recently launched its free, hyperlocal service-based app in cities across the U.S.
While a student, Matthews pondered why all restaurants wouldn’t deliver their food in his college town of Miami, Ohio, and decided to create a delivery service business plan for his iPhone development class.
The original idea was tweaked and now, AirRun is an app that connects users to complete almost any task a person wants. A “seeker” is the user that wants a job done, which can range from doing homework, mowing the lawn, or going on a beer run. The “runner” is the person that accepts the offer to complete the task from the seeker.
The app is location-based and uses the geolocation features of the iPhone to target runners within a certain area of the seeker.
Once runners and seekers agree on a price and tip before a job takes place, the runner performs the task. Before a transaction is finalized, runners are required to provide a receipt of items or services to be delivered and is then given a tip by the seeker that was agreed to earlier.
A screenshot of an AirRun errand.
Requests run the gamut, from a tattoo artist house call to recruiting someone to rake leaves off their front yard to picking up items at the grocery store.
Payments are allowed in the form of a check, PayPal, cash or through another app named Square, which allows runners to pay with credit cards.
The app allows seekers to free up time and creates little jobs for those in need of some cash. However, the app has received criticism for some users trying to abuse it for illegal services.
Matthews claims that the app tracks users who use it for illegal activity and will delete them if they are flagged. He said the company hasn’t had any major problems since launching earlier this year.
After services are rendered, users can rate each other’s performance, much like an eBay platform.
Expansion plans for the app are centered on college students adopting it, with AirRun pushing a promotion that gives students $250 cash for adding 100 new users to the app and $500 for 250 new users.
To be eligible for the promotion, new users must download the app on their iPhone and sign up via their college email.
Currently, the app is only available on the iPhone but the company has plans to expand into the Android market soon.
