Canines and cars win with TechCrunch pitches

Marissa Brent-Tookey

Marissa Brent-Tookey Jun 22, 2025

Feb 6, 2018

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                <h1>Canines and cars win with TechCrunch pitches</h1>
                <h2><p>At TechCrunch's Meetup + Pitch Off yesterday, a car sharing service won first place and a high-tech dog training system was the audience favorite. GeekWire reports that Ian Maddox's Joule is a service quite unlike Car2Go, as it specializes in long-term car shares with more options than</p></h2>
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               <p>By <a href="/author/marissa-brent-tookey-crosscut-com/">Marissa Brent-Tookey</a></p> 
              <p><time datetime="2025-02-04T05:00:00-08:00">Feb 6, 2018</time></p>
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            <p>At TechCrunch's Meetup + Pitch Off yesterday, a car sharing service won first place and a high-tech dog training system was the audience favorite. <a href="http://www.geekwire.com/2015/puppies-and-cars-here-are-the-winners-from-the-seattle-techcrunch-pitch-off/?ref=avalancheghost.one">GeekWire reports</a> that Ian Maddox's Joule is a service quite unlike Car2Go, as it specializes in long-term car shares with more options than a boxy two-seater. In his pitch, Maddox said, "you can check out a Prius from us on Monday, swap it out for a SUV on Wednesday and have a Tesla in time for a weekend." But the audience <em>really</em> loved Erick Eidus' PupPod. The "internet-connected learning system for dogs" uses sensors to determine when to dispense treats and reward certain behaviors.  It also allows owners to remotely monitor progress and watch their pet with a video camera.</p>
          </article>

At TechCrunch's Meetup + Pitch Off yesterday, a car sharing service won first place and a high-tech dog training system was the audience favorite. GeekWire reports that Ian Maddox's Joule is a service quite unlike Car2Go, as it specializes in long-term car shares with more options than a boxy two-seater. In his pitch, Maddox said, "you can check out a Prius from us on Monday, swap it out for a SUV on Wednesday and have a Tesla in time for a weekend." But the audience really loved Erick Eidus' PupPod. The "internet-connected learning system for dogs" uses sensors to determine when to dispense treats and reward certain behaviors. It also allows owners to remotely monitor progress and watch their pet with a video camera.

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By Marissa Brent-Tookey

Marissa Brent-Tookey is an editorial intern at Crosscut. She holds a B.A. in French from Seattle University and now studies film production at Shoreline Community College. In addition to crewing a doz