Zach Klein, founder of College Humor, Vimeo, CPO at Boxee, and prolific angel investor is taking a swing at combining his expertise in the consumer internet world with a passion for handicraft in a new venture called DIY.org. The company has been quiet about its focus and goals, but here are some interesting hints:
It has an amazing domain name – I wonder if the .org TLD is significant in that there will be a non-profit component? Also, while it is a cool name I imagine the DIY network or B&Q the owners of DIY.com might consider a trademark suit?
Are they making DIY kits? – Founder and CEO Zach Klein posted a question to Quora asking which 3rd party logistics provider worked with BirchBox, the subscription commerce retailer.
Will there be a woodsy theme? – Between the bear claw logo, Klein’s Cabin focused Tumblr, and the desks in the DIY office there is a distinct Jermiah Johnson feel to the brand. Will this be a DIY site in the broadest sense or a back to nature focused endeavor?
They have some seriously smart people – Check out the CV of Andrew Sliwinski, one of the co-founders of DIY. He seems to have done everything from web development to motion graphics to hardware production and show management. Whatever they choose to focus on, it seems they will have the talent to execute.
Is it a kid focused endeavor? – This photo suggests that the activities they have planned are at least partially kid friendly, but are they taking Klutz’s “Book Plus” concept to the web?
It is too soon to tell with certainty, but my guess is that the initial offering will be something like Instructables with a more user friendly UI married to a BirchBox style subscription ecommerce offering. Whatever it is, I’m excited for the launch. Crafting is a $30B market, but has received only a minuscule amount of attention relative to the amount of investment in music and gaming startups. This seems like a smart team, going after a massive, underserved market so interesting things are bound to emerge. Keep an eye on them.
