INWOOD — It's like Seamless, but specifically for fans of Latino cuisine.
App developer and Washington Heights resident Jose Salcedo — who has developed mobile apps and websites for several businesses in the community including Nail Lounge, Mamajuana Café, Mamasushi and the recently-opened Bocaditos and Guacamole — is putting his skills towards a new endeavor focused on the Central and South American food delivery market.
Traiilo, which means “bring it” in Spanish, is an app that lets customers search for restaurants and dishes, purchase the meals and then request to have the food delivered.
“Think of Uber for Latin food,” said Salcedo, 37.
His goal is to “empower” Latino-owned small businesses — which he said are not being highlighted or supported via apps like Seamless, Uber Eats or Postmates — to offer delivery in “a more affordable and convenient way."
Though it’s an idea he’s tinkered with in the past, Salcedo started working on Traiilo earlier this year when he realized the U.S. Latino market is one of the largest in the country. He estimates that there are more than 54,000 Mexican restaurants nationwide.
"This was an idea I was sitting on, but already we’ve gotten major feedback,” he said, saying he hopes to launch the beta version of the app in the next few months.
Salcedo is upping the ante for Traiilo with a team including former VH1 "Love & Hip Hop New York" reality star Tahiry Jose as head of partnerships, Danny Reyes as co-founder and Alex Frias as chief marketing officer.
“This is something we’re trying to make big,” Salcedo said. “Five years from now, we want Traiilo to be everything Latino on the map. This is really the start of something special.”
He is also making sure the app is known and used locally by presenting at the first tech fair in Washington Heights and Inwood on Saturday, June 3 at J.H.S. 52 on 650 Academy St. in Inwood from 12 to 5 p.m.
He is familiar with focusing his apps on Uptown Manhattan, having previously launched a local bus service company called “Bus Connect,” formerly known as Outobus, and partnering with the founder of Nail Lounge to create “The Latina Connect.”
The tech fair, organized by Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez, Community School District 6 and City College to help local students to learn more about careers in STEM, will also include companies like BMW, Con Edison, Major League Baseball, New York Life and Spectrum.