It’s high school graduation season. Need a gift for one of these college bound high school graduates of the class of 2011? Here are our top 10 Boston startup edition recommendations:
Zipcar
Okay, so with its new ZIP ticker symbol Zipcar is no longer a startup, but it was natural to kick the list off with a membership from this car sharing service. Zipcar has reserved spots and cars at 230 college and university campuses across the nation, so it is sure to enable your college bound high school grad to get off campus next semester (and have one less excuse not to come home).
PerkStreet
What’s most important to a high school student in his last summer at home and into college? Money. Set them up with a debit card from the online only bank PerkStreet so they can cash in on great rewards while learning how to manage their own money.
Smartphone
Android, iPhone – heck, even a Windows Phone 7. Give the kid a smartphone and make sure they’re connected with the biggest asset in any situation – from getting lost, answering a question in class to going out with friends (not to mention never having a reason not to stay in touch). S/he can then spend the summer getting to know Boston built apps like RunKeeper so they can stay healthy, Springpad to keep organized, and Goby to find and stay on top of things they like to do.
Backupify
Worse than losing a half written English paper? Losing all your photos from spring break. Be proactive and make sure this doesn’t happen with Backupify, a service that effortlessly backs-up all Gmail, Google Docs, Picasa, Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, Blogger, Zoho and LinkedIn information.
BlankLabel, Gemvara
From orientations to presentations, your college bound graduate is bound to need at least one collared shirt. Let them design their own at BlankLabel. Lady graduate? Look no further than Gemvara for a custom piece of jewelry you can be sure they’ll love.
Webiva
Budding web entrepreneur on your hands? Enable them with subscription to Webiva, which offers a place for them to quickly develop and design websites with rich features like ecommerce – and regardless if they know any programming languages or not. In other words, let them “P.I.M.P. their website” with Webiva.
LogMeIn’s join.me
Want to stay in touch over video? Secretly petrified that you won’t have their computer help once they leave the nest? Either way, LogMeIn’s join.me product offers simple screen sharing solution. It’s free — so this is perfect for those of you on a tight budget. Just make sure you get them a card!
IdeaPaint
With a big new national deal with Lowes, IdeaPaint is easily available and a perfect gift to keep that high school grad’s creativity alive during the summer. And when they head to school, it will especially comes in handy for any wall or desk (or drinking surface).
Wiggio
This is another free solution for those of you on a tight budget. From sports and extra-curricular orgs to classroom teams, any college bound kid is inevitably going work in groups. Help make them an organizational wizard by introducing them to Wiggio, a social web startup that makes it super simple to work in groups.
Dunkin’ Donuts
Also not a startup, we had to round out the list with this well-known Boston company as it just filed for its IPO. Top of plans for Dunkin’ with its new access to capital: expand across the nation and internationally. Soon to be more places across the globe, a gift card from Boston’s favorite coffee will be sure to come in handy if your college bound needs to stay awake to write that paper (or gets homesick while away).
