How many times have you, as a man, visited a crowded bar just to have the bartender avoid you? Unless you're George Clooney, or have Kate Upton around your arm, this is bound to happen; even worse, when the bartender finally serves all the women, he still expects a tip for that hideously overpriced gin and tonic he just served you. The night that you imagined has suddenly become hellish and reality is kicking you in the head. Life has given you the middle finger. If this scenario is at all relatable: pay attention! As per usual, the tech world is destined to yet again solve your first world problems.
Monsieur, a robotic bartender of sorts, wants to become the “Keurig (GMCR) of Cocktails." Monsieur is an artificially intelligent bartender that uses iOS and Android apps to make specialized drinks; the design currently comes in two sizes: commercial and personal. The larger commercial Kiosk is produced for public locations, like bars and restaurants. As such, it can pour large volumes of mixed drinks. However, if you’re looking for a personal bartender, Monsieur also makes a tabletop version perfect for man caves.
To date, Monsieur has raised over $2 million in seed funding. It is currently used in select hotels, restaurants, bars, and other social locations. Furthermore, the unit requires Monsieur's iOS or Android application for operation. The app has an extensive list of cocktails and drinks, and also tracks guest consumption; once a certain threshold is reached, Monsieur can automatically call an Uber to prevent drunk driving.
The main knock on Monsieur is that the Kiosk version comes with a $4,000 price tag, which is far too expensive for regular drinkers. However, as the company continues to raise money and generate revenue, Monsieur will be able to lower its prices. If the company properly executes its business plan, Monsieur may become a household name; just don't expect it to be as common as Keurig.