This is easily the best idea we've seen all day. Eric Jaffe profiles TaxiTreats - "the latest attempt to capitalize on the captive nature of most urban travelers."
"Welcome to the era of TaxiTreats — a touchscreen, credit-card only vending machine that may someday soon offer cab passengers everything from energy drinks, hand sanitizer, mints and gum, pain relievers, and prophylactics," writes Jaffe.
"The idea got legs last spring at the Next Idea initiative governed by [New York City's] Economic Development Corporation. TaxiTreats won $17,500 in seed money and half a year of office space in the city."
"Last week," he adds, "EDC announced that TaxiTreats has parlayed that seed money into $1 million in angel funding from investors including The Richport Group, which is chaired by pop singer Marc Anthony."
Although the technology, which is estimated to cost $2,000 to install, has yet to be approved by the city's Taxi and Limousine Commission, TaxiTreats CEO Brian Shimmerlik "believes some cabbies will install the devices as early as this summer."
FULL STORY: Coming Soon to a Cab Near You: Vending Machines?
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