StoreMe

StoreMe operates as a mobile-first platform providing on-demand, short-term luggage and bag storage, connecting travelers and locals with retail businesses that have underutilized space. The company was founded in 2017 by Peter Korbel, a serial entrepreneur who conceived the idea after personally experiencing the inconvenience of carrying a gym bag to business meetings in New York City. This experience fueled his passion for creating a technology-based solution to a common urban problem. Korbel, who holds a BA from Columbia University and an MBA from The George Washington University, previously co-founded one of Washington D.C.'s first food truck fleets, Fojol Bros., demonstrating a history of identifying and acting on service-based market opportunities.

The platform targets tourists, business travelers, and locals who need a temporary place to store their belongings, whether it's due to an early Airbnb checkout, attending an event with baggage restrictions, or simply wanting to move about a city unencumbered. The business model is a two-sided marketplace; it provides a valuable service to users needing storage while simultaneously creating a new revenue stream for partner businesses—such as retail stores, hotels, and dry cleaners—by monetizing their unused space and increasing foot traffic. StoreMe makes money by charging customers an hourly or daily rate for storage, with prices around $2-$3 for the first hour and daily maximums of approximately $7.50 to $14.00, depending on the item's size. Transactions are managed through the StoreMe mobile application, available on both iOS and Android, which facilitates searching, reserving, and paying for storage. For security, all partner locations are vetted by the company, and items are insured for up to $2,500 per transaction.

A significant milestone in the company's journey was its acceptance into the SeedInvest equity crowdfunding platform in August 2018, a testament to its potential, as only about 1% of applicants were accepted. By that time, the company had already expanded to over 125 locations across New York, Washington D.C., Boston, and Philadelphia. The network later grew to over 300 locations in major U.S. cities. In a strategic exit, StoreMe was acquired by the London-based luggage storage network, Stasher, on June 18, 2024. The acquisition was part of Stasher's strategy to expand its footprint in the North American market, integrating StoreMe's locations into its global network of over 5,500 storage points. Following the sale, Peter Korbel shifted his focus to his consulting business.

Keywords: luggage storage, bag storage, on-demand storage, short-term storage, travel tech, sharing economy, marketplace, mobile application, travel services, urban convenience, baggage hold, city travel, Peter Korbel, Stasher, hourly storage, daily storage, retail partnerships, travel logistics, luggage network, bag drop