Retail tech startup GetUpside opens Austin office, plans more hires

Startup GetUpside, which provides personalized deals at gas stations, restaurants and grocery stores, said Wednesday that it has opened a second office in Austin.

The Washington, D.C.-based startup added six employees to its new office at co-working space WeWork on Barton Springs Road and plans to add about 20 employees in Austin this year, according to Wayne Lin, the company's co-founder and chief operating officer.

Lin and GetUpside CEO Alex Kinnier, who both previously worked at Google and Opower, founded the company in 2016. Now, GetUpside has roughly 100 employees.

Lin said the company chose Austin for its second office because of the city's reputation as a technology hub and its retail presence.

"Austin fits attributes that we ended up really loving as a startup and find really valuable," he said, adding that the city has "a vibrant tech scene" without the competitiveness of Silicon Valley.

GetUpside offers a free app that gives users cash back for shopping at gas stations, restaurants and grocery stores in select cities.

In Austin, the app offers deals at more than 100 gas stations, including at Shell, Exxon, Chevron and Sunoco. GetUpside also features 500 gas stations in Houston, with plans to add gas stations in additional Texas cities.

GetUpside also offers cash back at nearly 30 Wendy's restaurants in Austin and Lin said the company hopes to add grocery partners in the city soon.

Overall, the app has more than 1.1 million users in 20 states.

Consumers can select an offer for the best gas price, pay with a credit or debit card and then upload a photo of their receipt on the app. Users can cash out at any time using PayPal, e-giftcards or a check.

Meanwhile, merchants opting into the service can attract more customers and earn more money, according to Lin.

"We work with the merchant to look at profitability," Lin said. GetUpside uses a machine learning system that tests different offers "to find the best price point," he said.

Lin said the company hopes to bring an updated version of the app that doesn't require consumers to upload a receipt.

Jen Millard, a retail technology sales expert, will become GetUpside's chief revenue officer and lead the Austin office.

Millard will oversee hiring for new roles in operations, sales and marketing.

“I am excited to be joining GetUpside and to be opening an office in one of the country’s most dynamic technology environments," Millard said in a written statement. "Austin is the perfect location for us to recruit new talent interested in helping GetUpside expand our platform that benefits both merchants and consumers."