Business Growth Spotlight
Welcome to Business Growth Spotlight, the podcast where we shine a light on innovative business leaders, cutting-edge strategies, and the latest trends shaping the world of business growth. Whether you're a corporate leader, entrepreneur, or online educator, this podcast delivers actionable insights and expert conversations to help you scale your business, increase revenue, and stay ahead in a competitive market.
Join host Heidi Schalk as we dive deep into the stories and strategies of industry leaders, uncovering the tools and tactics they use to drive success. From navigating corporate challenges to mastering online visibility, this podcast is your go-to resource for scaling your business and reaching your goals.
Tune in weekly for inspiring conversations, practical advice, and a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to thrive in today’s ever-evolving business landscape.
Business Growth Spotlight
Ep. 181 The Power of Hyper Local Marketing for Startup Growth
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Show Notes:
In this episode of Business Growth Spotlight, host Heidi Schalk sits down with Shashi Subbarao, Founder and CEO of Activity Bees, a platform designed to help people connect locally through shared interests and activities.
Shashi shares how a simple, real-life moment with a neighbor sparked the idea for Activity Bees and evolved into a tech-driven solution to combat isolation, increase activity, and build meaningful community connections.
They dive into:
👉How Activity Bees connects people based on location and shared interests
👉The importance of solving a real problem before building a product
👉Lessons learned from early-stage growth, including churn and scattered user acquisition
👉Why hyper-local growth beats mass marketing for community platforms
👉How instructors and coaches can leverage the platform for visibility and revenue
👉The role of trust, safety, and verification in building a scalable platform
👉Upcoming features including marketplace functionality, scheduling tools, and gamification
👉The power of validation, feedback loops, and incremental progress in startups
Shashi also shares candid insights on what didn’t work, including broad Google Ads campaigns, and how shifting to localized partnerships is unlocking more sustainable growth.
Bio:
Founder & CEO at Activity Bees with more than 20 years experience in technology development, technical and strategic leadership in social networking, large scale systems including biometrics and AI.
To connect with our guest, click on the links below:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shashi-s-43473a4/
Website: www.activitybees.com
Connect with me:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidischalkcoaching/
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