Grand St.

Founded in 2012 by Amanda Peyton, Joe Lallouz, and Aaron Henshaw, Grand St. established itself as a curated online marketplace for creative and independent electronics. Based in Brooklyn, New York, the company focused on discovering and promoting hardware from small-batch manufacturers and independent makers who were part of the growing 'maker movement'. Amanda Peyton, a Y-Combinator alumna, drove the company's mission to connect these creators with consumers passionate about unique technology.

Grand St. operated on a distinctive business model that emphasized curation and storytelling. The company's team would meticulously review and approve all products before they were featured, ensuring a high standard of quality and originality. Initially, the platform operated in an invite-only mode, featuring a rotating inventory of about five products each week. Following a $1.3 million seed funding round from investors including Betaworks, First Round Capital, and BoxGroup, the company opened to the public in July 2013. It then expanded its model to include a permanent collection of previously featured popular products, alongside its weekly features. The platform served a niche market of consumers looking for personalized and well-crafted electronics, moving beyond mass-produced items.

The service provided a platform for makers to bring their products to a broader audience, offering features like pre-orders and early beta access to new technologies. This approach catered to a community interested in the story behind the products and the innovation of independent hardware makers. This unique positioning captured the attention of Etsy, the online marketplace for handmade and vintage goods. In April 2014, Etsy announced its acquisition of Grand St. for a rumored price of just under $10 million in a mix of cash and stock. The acquisition was seen as a strategic fit, aligning with Etsy's vision of a changing landscape in manufacturing and consumer interest in unique goods. The Grand St. team joined Etsy, with the intention of continuing to operate the marketplace separately in the near term to help Etsy expand into the electronics category. Keywords: creative electronics, independent hardware, curated marketplace, maker movement, small-batch manufacturing, electronics e-commerce, Amanda Peyton, Joe Lallouz, Aaron Henshaw, Etsy acquisition, Betaworks, First Round Capital, Brooklyn startup, niche electronics, hardware marketplace, tech gadgets, pre-order electronics, independent makers, product curation, consumer electronics