Food delivery app JoyRun makes debut at Utah State
A new food delivery option has become available to Utah State University students through an app called JoyRun.
JoyRun is a community-based app that allows users to either order a delivery or be the one to deliver an order and earn a little extra cash in the process.
“It’s a great way to make side cash,” said Tyson Mears, a JoyRun user who usually spends at least one night a week delivering to other app users. “Most people just order small groceries or food.”
Mears said he is able to earn anywhere between $25 to $45 while using the app in one night. JoyRun promotion team member, Jonathon Farr, said that in California, where the app was created, a person was able to earn as much as $150 in just one night. Farr believes if the app continues to grow, Utah State students will also be able to earn the same amount of money in a night.
“There is nothing else like this in Utah,” Farr said. “I think it can become just as popular here as it is at U.C. Davis.”
JoyRun uses a payment system similar to Uber which requires a user to enter credit card information into the app before using the services available in order to ensure that delivery users are being paid. According to Farr if a user isn’t paid for some reason they can call JoyRun’s app support and be reimbursed in minutes.
“It’s a very secure app,” Mears said.
At Utah State the app has already gotten more than 500 downloads in just three weeks. Mears expects that number to continue to increase.
“The last three companies I’ve worked for have been start-up companies,” Mears said. “I know JoyRun is going to be successful.”
Farr said he is not surprised by the app’s success.
“We offer more options than anywhere else on campus,” Farr said. “Students get tired of eating the same thing every day.”
Utah State University’s Dining Services has declined to comment at this time.
JoyRun creator, Manish Rathi, is predicting the app’s success on a much larger scale.
“This product will eventually be global,” Rathi told reporters at The Daily Tar Heel. “Not just on campuses, not just a few campuses, but all campuses and then even in cities and offices and so on.”
JoyRun is currently backed by five major companies including Arena Capital Partners, FLOODGATE, Morado Venture Partners, Norwest Venture Partners and Sinovation Ventures who have invested a total of $23.75 million.
For now, Farr hopes Utah State students will recognize the unique value of the app and continue to build the JoyRun community in Logan.
“In Logan there is nothing else like this here,” Farr said.
@HowardShanie
Graphic by Emmalee Olsen