AI, low-code tools fuel Charlotte junk removal startup
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Photo: Andy Weber/Axios
Charlotte entrepreneur Caleb Musser recently launched a rideshare-style junk-removal platform in Charlotte and Charleston called BoxMow.
Why it matters: BoxMow is the latest business to incorporate AI into its primary function. It also makes it easier for consumers to dispose of junk.
What they're saying: "With online shopping and deliveries, there's just more stuff being generated now than the traditional trash or recycling will pick up," Musser says.
How it works: Upload a photo of what you want picked up to BoxMow's website, which will use AI to analyze your order. Then you'll get a quote for your pickup.
- BoxMow pickups typically cost between $50-$100, Musser tells Axios. Larger orders requiring two trucks may exceed $150.
- Your items will be picked up the next day. Items must be outside, as BoxMow will not enter your home, Musser says.
- BoxMow will trash, recycle or donate your items to Goodwill.
Yes, but: The county offers a free bulk item pickup for large household items that can be scheduled in advance. BoxMow, however, points to the convenience of its services.
By the numbers: Musser created BoxMow's website for less than $5,000.
- "With the tools that are out there now, someone like myself who is not technical can build something no-code, low-code," Musser says, adding that the technological side isn't as much of a barrier as it would have been 15 years ago.
State of play: Thus far, they've had roughly 50 pickups between Charlotte and Charleston. They currently have around 20 drivers (10 per market).
- The most common items picked up are cardboard, household goods, furniture and clothes, Musser says.
What's next: He hopes to raise $1.2 million in funding to scale the business, both in terms of drivers and BoxMow's overall footprint.
Zoom out: Musser, a Raleigh native who attended UNC Wilmington, has called Charlotte home since 2012. He created the Musser Box in 2014, which has created customized wooden gift boxes for professional sports teams, NFL owners, former President George W. Bush and Fortune 500 CEOs.