EP #164 A New Way To See What’s Happening In Fredericksburg

You can feel it when a town is buzzing, but most of us still struggle to answer one simple question: what’s happening near me right now? We’re joined by Keith Anderson, the founder of Pinvero, a Fredericksburg-based real time event platform that lets businesses, charities, and organizers drop a pin on a live map so locals can instantly see what’s going on around them.

We talk through how Pinvero works in plain terms, including the kind of moments it’s built for: a restaurant adding a last-minute band night, a neighbor searching for something to do this weekend, or a community group trying to get the word out fast. Keith also shares the personal path that led him here, from military service to years around gaming and “real world overlays,” and then the turning point during the pandemic when he saw how a lack of local awareness could hurt small businesses that were already fighting to stay open.

Privacy comes up for a reason with any location-based app, and we address it head-on. Keith explains what Pinvero does and doesn’t do, how general location is used with permission, and why the product is focused on community connection rather than keeping people glued to a screen. We also cover how brand-new founders think about onboarding, feedback, and pricing, including a freemium tier and free access for 501(c)(3) organizations.

If you care about Fredericksburg VA community events, small business marketing, and better ways to discover local happenings, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s always looking for plans, and leave a review so more neighbors can find the show.

Keith Anderson

Pinvero LLC 

pinvero.com

Transcript

Welcome To FXBG Neighbors

Speaker 0:01

This is the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Dori Stewart.

Speaker 1 0:13

Welcome back to another episode of the FXBG Neighbors Podcast, where we share the stories of our favorite local brands. I'm excited to introduce you to my guest today. We've got Keith Anderson joining us, and he is with Pinvero. Keith, welcome to the podcast.

Speaker 2 0:29

Thank you very much, Dori. It's a pleasure to be here.

Speaker 1 0:32

I'm really excited for this because I'm excited to learn all about you and your business.

What Pinvero Actually Does

Speaker 1 0:37

So tell us, what is Pinvero?

Speaker 2 0:40

Sure. So Pinvero is a local marketing real-time event platform that any business or charity or event can get on a platform, drop a pin, and local um uh residents can get on that platform and just verify and look at and see everything that's going on around them in real time.

Speaker 1 1:03

Amazing. Amazing. Okay, so let me uh make sure I understand. So a business, so let's say there's a restaurant that's got a band playing Tuesday night, they can go onto the platform and add their event. And then the neighbor down the street who's looking for something to do can go on to Pinvero and see um visually where the events are absolutely every single event, and anytime that the a pin is dropped, they can see that real time.

Speaker 2 1:34

Absolutely.

Speaker 1 1:35

Very cool.

Military Roots And App Origin Story

Speaker 1 1:37

So tell me about your background. How did you get into this?

Speaker 2 1:40

Sure. Uh so I I was in the military previously, and then I I got out and I started playing video games, you know, like some of us do. Uh, but I was really fascinated with um kind of like the real-world um overlay that games create for people to enjoy. Uh with that, uh, during the pandemic, uh I'm with the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, and we would go to different uh local restaurants or you know businesses to try to help out because we know that you know that was a struggle there. Um so we'd get together, we'd go there, and then I seen it firsthand how these uh the pandemic itself or how uh locals that don't know that something is happening uh affects that business. So with the two, I kind of created an app. Uh I've been I've been you know in game development as well as playing games uh for you know about 15 years now. So with those two together, I kind of married those together and then we came up with Penbero.

Speaker 1 2:42

Amazing, amazing.

Privacy Concerns Cleared Up

Speaker 1 2:44

So tell me, are there any myths or misconceptions that you feel like you're constantly having to clear up about your business?

Speaker 2 2:52

Yeah, absolutely. So one of them uh is well, there's a couple, uh, but uh probably the main one is privacy. Um they believe that in some form or fashion, I am um I am um I'm taking their in private information or I'm tracking them or something to that effect. It's not happening that way. With your permission, um I you allow us to see where you are generally, and then with that general information, we populate the the you know the necessary information for you to have a good experience. That's it.

Speaker 1 3:32

Gotcha, gotcha.

How To Find And Use Pinvero

Speaker 1 3:34

So how do people find Pinvero?

Speaker 2 3:38

Sure. Uh you find uh find Pinvero at Pinvero.com. Um if you wanted to learn more about it, you can go to Pinvero.com forward slash about. Um, and of course, you can message me directly. My name is Keith. I'm local, so you know, uh we launched right here, my uh Keith at Pinvero.com.

Speaker 1 3:57

And what is something that you wish the listeners knew about Pinvero?

Speaker 2 4:02

Um, that we're not trying to replace traditional um marketing efforts. We're not trying to do that. I'm just trying to uh really connect the community to what's happening local, real time. Again, you know, it's one thing to have an event uh four months from now, and it's another one to hey, you know, we need to do something this weekend, and you don't have enough time to get that information out. Um, so that's where Pinvero kind of takes you that last mile.

Speaker 1 4:32

And if a business owner is listening, because I get a lot of business owners who listen to this podcast. Okay, and if they want to learn more and work with you, what is that process like?

Speaker 2 4:45

Yeah, so right now we're trying to refine that. Again, we launched maybe uh two and a half or uh not even two weeks ago, a week and a half ago. Um so that process would be if you just jump on Pinbero and and go through the motions of you know, just learning the platform in general. Um, and if you have any questions, uh there's a feedback button that we have directly on the page or on the platform, as well as please reach out to me and I will I can walk you through anything that you need.

Speaker 1 5:12

So very new in the business. Congratulations.

Speaker 2 5:16

Thank you very much.

Speaker 1 5:16

I imagine that was a lot of hard work. Uh, you're not just building uh a business, but you uh built the technology as well. So a lot of people are building the technology or they're building the business. You built both, and that's uh

Launch Lessons Pricing And Mission

Speaker 1 5:32

a lot of work, I imagine. And so what advice would you have for someone who is listening in, inspired by you?

Speaker 2 5:40

Well, well, thank you. Um it's um I think my main thing is don't quit. I think it on several of occasions, it's not that I wanted to quit, I think it was more is this gonna work? Do people need this? Do you know the the questions start creeping in? And before you know it, you're almost at that that breaking point where, you know, do I want to put more time into this or do I want to push forward? And I think always push forward.

Speaker 1 6:05

So that's really good advice. Always push forward.

Speaker 2 6:10

Thank you.

Speaker 1 6:10

I love it. So uh before we uh sign off, is there anything that you would like the listeners to know about Pinvero that maybe we haven't talked about yet?

Speaker 2 6:21

Um yes, actually, um, I think Pinvero would work. Well, number one is we are free for 501C3s. Uh we really want charities and stuff to be on there so people know that they're out there, car washes, um, things of that nature. Um we also have a freemium tier, of course. It cannot be free. I'm sorry, everybody. I wanted to, but the back end costs money, you know, and uh that's that's the truth. Um, so there, but there is a freemium tier. You can get on there and you can use it for free and just really get involved in how it works. Um, and other than that, you know, um I am trying to bring everybody together, not push everybody away and keep them on their phones. That's just that's my take on it all. So yes.

Speaker 1 7:08

Amazing, amazing. Well, Keith, thank you so much for joining me on the podcast today and sharing Pinvero with us.

Speaker 2 7:15

Oh, thank you very much. I appreciate you having me.

Nominate A Local Business

Speaker 7:19

Thank you for listening to the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to FXBG NeighborsPodcast.com.