The Holiday Gift Guide [for techies]
The holiday season is one of the few times of the year where entrepreneurs try to take a step back from the daily grind to spend quality time with family, friends and our colleagues.
With all of the other tasks vying for your attention, holiday shopping may be one of the last items on your to-do list before you close out the year, so we thought we’d help you out.
Here’s a list of some of our favorite gifts for entrepreneurs and techies this holiday season:
Wireless Headphones
Price Range: $22 — $350
Wherever you’re working — be it in a co-working space, a garage, from the gym, or on a plane — a pair of wireless headphones will give you the awesome jams (or quiet) you need to pound out a business proposal, pitch deck, or whatever other work you’re itching to complete.
For lightweight and affordable wireless headphones, consider SoundPeats wireless headphones (they’re also sweatproof!). If you have a slightly larger budget and want all the bells and whistles to match, we love Apple Airpods for simplicity and convenience and Beats Studio3 or Bose QuietComfort 35 Series II for noise cancellation and comfort.
A Subscription Box of Curated Goodies
Price Range: $10 — $231
Most entrepreneurs are too busy to go shopping for items they need or want. Luckily, there’s a subscription box for just about everything under the sun. Know someone who could use help with remembering to eat between meetings and events? There’s The Good Kitchen. Running enthusiast? There’s Runner Crate. Comic-Con fan? My Geek Box.
Services like Stitch Fix also offer a time-saving alternative to hitting brick-and-mortar stores, dealing with long lines, and avoiding notoriously unflattering fitting room lighting. Stitch Fix has just launched their men’s line, so for men and women alike, we think this makes a great gift for your significant other.
A Smart Suitcase
Price Range: $225 — $295
Traveling, especially during the holidays, can be tough for everyone. Tech-savvy travel gadgets make it less stressful. The Away Carry-On is on our wish list this holiday season. It comes with a durable, hardshell case and a removable battery so you can charge your phone while you’re waiting for your flight and safely remove it before you board, making it airline compliant.
A Cool Kitchen Gadget
Price Range: $179 — $199
For the techie and foodie in your life, Chefsteps Joule Sous Vide helps you cook food to an exact temperature and perfect doneness, all at the touch of a button. Highly recommended by our CMO herself, this is a fantastic, simple way to enjoy a good meal at the end of a long day and (especially important during the holidays) to avoid spending a ton of time in the kitchen when you’ve got company. Even without the knowledge of how to sous vide, it’s very easy to learn.
A Full Battery (even when you’re not traveling)
Price Range: $13 — $80
In this day and age, true panic sets in when your gadgets dip under 10 percent in battery power.
The Nomad Wireless Hub makes it easy to plug in up to 5 of your devices and even power up your wireless-charge supported phone, making it perfect for the office or home. For a more inexpensive version, there’s Yootech which can charge any Qi-enabled phone.
If you’re always on the go, consider a portable charger like the Anker Powercore Lite. It’ll give your phone at least 2 full charges, which will come in handy when you’re making the rounds at a conference or networking event.
Tickets to the Startup Grind Global Conference (February)
Price Range: $305 *this week only*
We may be biased, but some 8,000 others agree: The Startup Grind Global Conference is a can’t miss event for early stage startups, innovators, investors, and the worldwide community of entrepreneurs. Attending a conference gives you the chance to interact with thousands of other startups, entrepreneurs, and innovators from around the world. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.
Available for a limited time — get early access to our “Black Friday” deal: $100 off for the first 100 tickets. Don’t wait — buy for yourself, a colleague or friend, or both!
Pro tip: Any time you attend an event, think ahead about what you can do the help someone else. Make friends, not contacts is one of our cardinal rules for networking, and it helps to make for a great first impression with others you meet.
A Personal Item Tracker
Price Range: $25 — $180
If you know someone (or are that person) who’s always losing their phone, keys, wallet or bag — or leaving them behind, a personal item tracker like the Tile Mate may be a good companion to join you in the new year.
This thin, compact gadget syncs with your phone via Bluetooth and can help you recover whatever you’ve lost by showing you its location on a map. Even better, you can “ring” your Tile from your phone (or vice versa from any Tile), so you’ll never lose track of your personal items again.
A Great Book
Price Range: $2 — $18
Whether you lean toward audiobooks or go the traditional route, don’t overlook the importance of gifting (or receiving) a great book. If you’re a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, there’s always something new to learn.
If you haven’t read it, an oldie but goodie is Good to Great. For lessons in how to prevent startup failures, read The Lean Startup. Influence will provide you with all of the tools you need to understand the art of persuading others. Learning how to be a successful leader? Multipliers. If you’re looking for a book that does double duty in the realms of professional and personal development, thumb through Mindset.
If you’re a startup looking for ways to jumpstart rapid growth, check out Reid Hoffman’s new book, Blitzscaling. It’s highly recommended and a personal favorite of the Startup Grind team.
What’s your perfect gift this season? Let us know in the comments below.
However you’re celebrating, we wish you a happy and safe holiday season from the entire Startup Grind family.
