Netflix of babywear founder is finalist for College Entrepreneur of the Year

Wednesday, August 18, 2010 | Source: Concentrate

Bebaroo is a unique start-up that bills itself as the NetFlix of used baby clothes, with a not-so-unique driving force. One of its founders is about to become a father.

Luis Calderon and Allen Kim became intrigued with the idea after Kim's aunt gave birth and bought a boatload of clothes and accessories that her baby outgrew in short order. The pair of University of Michigan students began researching the idea of selling these gently used baby clothes over the net. When Calderon's wife became pregnant, that lit a fire under the entrepreneurs to find an answer for the expensive proposition of raising a child.

"At first when you have the baby you get excited and buy all of this stuff," Calderon says. "Then you say, 'Holy crap! What am I doing?'"

The Ann Arbor-based firm is creating its pilot website and has 70 people who have already signed up to buy and sell baby clothes and other products on it. The 2-month-old start-up expects to grow to 2,000-3,000 users within a year and begin raising seed capital early next year. It expects to hire 10-20 people as it sets up a warehouse and logistical operations.

"We're off to the races," Calderon says.

Bebaroo is a catchy version of the word Bebary, which means 'To give nice things to children'. Kim is one of five finalists in the running to become Entrepreneur magazine's 2010 College Entrepreneur of the Year.

Source: Luis Calderon, co-founder of Bebaroo
Writer: Jon Zemke