Sharing the Vision of Nearby Nearby: Featured Speaker at Two Chatham County Networking Events

These events marked the first time the vision of Nearby Nearby was shared publicly before Dualboot took over to build the wireframe, and the response from local business owners and community members was overwhelmingly positive.

Siler City Chamber’s “Wake Up with the Chamber” at Cowboy Cafe

The first event was with the Siler City Chamber at their “Wake Up with the Chamber” networking breakfast held at Cowboy Cafe. As the featured speaker, Rhonda Jean presented the vision behind Nearby Nearby, explaining how the platform aims to support rural communities by making local businesses, events, and attractions more discoverable. Attendees were highly engaged, offering valuable feedback on how the platform could boost local economies and bring communities together.

Photo Credit to Josh Harris

Wake Up Wednesday at Carolina Brewery

Following the first event, Rhonda Jean also spoke at Wake Up Wednesday at Carolina Brewery. Here, she shared how Nearby Nearby will transform local discovery for residents, tourists, and businesses alike. The event provided another great opportunity to connect with local leaders, and the thoughtful questions asked by the audience helped further refine the platform’s mission and features.

Photo Credit to N.G. Photography

Popular Questions Asked

Here are some of the most popular questions asked at both events:

1. How does the One Search feature work? The One Search feature works by allowing users to search for any location, and based on distance, it automatically displays all nearby points of interest. For example, if someone searches for a park in their area, Nearby Nearby will also show businesses, events, and other attractions within a certain distance from that park. This seamless connection between locations helps users quickly find everything relevant without switching between apps or multiple searches.
2. What will the cost be to businesses? The pricing for businesses is still being finalized but will range between $125 to $300 per year. The goal is to offer a set fee, as Nearby Nearby aims to avoid a model that nickel and dimes users.
3. Can users customize their searches or preferences, such as filtering for pet-friendly places or events? While this feature may not be included in our initial MVP (Minimal Viable Product) beta version, we plan to offer users the ability to create profile settings for future releases. These settings would allow users to apply filters for things like family-friendly events, pet-friendly locations, or specific interests, making searches even more personalized—whether they’re planning a night out with the kids, the dog, or looking for adult activities.
4. What makes Nearby Nearby stand out compared to larger platforms like Yelp, Google Maps, or TripAdvisor? Unlike the larger platforms, Nearby Nearby is built with rural communities in mind. The platform is designed to help smaller towns and businesses get the visibility they deserve, whereas larger platforms often overlook these areas. The One Search feature uses distance to show everything nearby, making it easier for users to discover everything in their local community without extra effort.
5. What is the timeline for launching the platform in additional counties or regions? Nearby Nearby will first focus on Chatham County and Randolph County before expanding into the other 76 rural counties of North Carolina. Once we have established a presence in rural areas, we’ll move on to the 22 urban counties, capturing the 900,000+ small businesses across the state. From there, we plan to expand along the East Coast, then move to the West Coast, with the goal of encompassing the entire United States within five years after the beta launch.

Looking Ahead

Rhonda Jean and Barry Costa are currently working with Dualboot to get the wireframe in place, allowing the team to bring the vision of Nearby Nearby to life. This critical step will enable the platform to operate efficiently and effectively, especially in rural areas with slower internet connections. Once the wireframe is ready, Nearby Nearby will be featured at several upcoming pitch opportunities and as an exhibitor at larger conferences. These events will help further expand the platform’s visibility and connect with a broader audience, driving excitement and support as we move forward.