There are a lot of little problems in life.
You lose your car keys. You're craving peanut butter but can't reach the last glob. You have one more slot on your power strip, but your cord is too clunky to fit.
None of these are big problems, but they're all really aggravating.
Thankfully, a few startups are working to make the little things in our lives better.
It's a big pain when you can't get every last drop out of a jar. MIT students have found a way to make even the stickiest substances glide to the top of containers.
Startup that's working on it:LiquiGlide
What it is: Founded by a few MIT students and their professor, LiquiGlide is a coating that can be put on most surfaces to repel even the stickiest liquids, from jelly to mayonnaise. It minimizes waste because you can literally squeeze every last drop out of a bottle. See it in action, here.
Soon, you won't have to shell out $30 for a new charger because your old one doesn't fit in your new device.
Startup that's working on a solution: uBeam
What it is: A device that wirelessly charges multiple devices at once. The devices don't have to touch the charger or be plugged into anything. uBeam uses ultrasonic waves to "beam" electricity through the air to the devices, and it works across multiple brands. Right now it's just a working prototype, but fingers crossed it comes to market soon. In the meantime, you can try the Duracell PowerMat.
Losing your car keys feels like losing your mind. Luckily, there's an app for that.
Startup that's working on a solution: GetAround (Zipcar has a solution like this too, so does Viper SmartStart)
What it is: GetAround is a car sharing service that lets you loan your car for cash to a neighbor when you're not using it. Since it's a little difficult to physically exchange keys with someone you don't know, GetAround is working on a mobile key exchange app that can turn on cars and unlock doors instead. Right now though, you still have to meet the car owner in person for the keys.
Zipcar has a similar mobile feature that lets users can lock or unlock doors and even honk the car's horn via mobile app. Viper SmartStart is a pricier alternative that lets you lock, unlock, locate and even start your car from a mobile app.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider