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New App Gutsy Forces Users To Act Fast To Get Deals

By Mina Bloom | January 28, 2016 8:30pm
 The new iPhone app Gutsy is debuting in Lincoln Park.
The new iPhone app Gutsy is debuting in Lincoln Park.
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LINCOLN PARK — Have you ever scrolled through Netflix's endless selections of movie titles and not been able to choose one?  

Whether it's movie titles or delivery food, some might say we have too many options to choose from. That's why a couple of recent college graduates launched the iPhone app Gutsy, which they refer to as the "Snapchat of mobile purchasing."

Gutsy offers deals at restaurants and other places like comedy clubs. But the user must act quickly: Deals vanish in 15-60 seconds, much like photos or videos on the popular messaging app Snapchat.

Matt Vari, 23, who co-founded the app with his high school friend Matt Mullen, said he's used to hearing the phrases "I'll go wherever" or "I'll do whatever" from his friends.

"We want people to open up Gutsy and find out where to go. They'll say, 'We've got 20 seconds. Should we go to this place or that place?' It's a little bit of pressure but we're making it easier to decide," said Vari, who grew up in Garfield Ridge and graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Right now, the app is offering its time-sensitive deals at Heart & Mind, BlackFinn Ameripub and Park Tavern, with plans to partner with a host of Lincoln Park spots, including Chicago Dog House, FUH, The Crowd Theater, Barn & Company, LA Social, Maxbar and Stanley's Kitchen & Tap.

Vari said he expects that list to grow in the coming weeks.

Users should expect reasonable discounts, like a couple dollars off a hamburger, Vari said.

"We don't want to offer huge discounts," he said. "We want to make sure people are having a fun, easy way to save a few dollars. But we also talked to a lot of business owners who want to take advantage of mobile marketing but don't want to offer services for free."

If all goes well in Lincoln Park, the pair plan to seek funding in order to expand the app across the city.

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