Your Name: Tonia Zampieri
Business Name: Finder411, an online network for small businesses
Type of Business: High Tech
Business Location: Morrisville, North Carolina, United States
Website http://finder411.com
Twitter @finder411
Facebook facebook.com/finder411
Pinterest http://pinterest.com/finder411/
Reason for starting
To help people and empower more small businesses to be successful in this rapidly changing economy where so many big businesses continue to lay people off and they are left to re-invent themelves. To bring small local businesses back to the forefront of our awareness, providing a platform where they can be found, supported and provide the uniqueness that makes our local communities special and worth living in vs. only surrounded by big box retailers and franchises.
How do you define success?
By the amount of real people who are financially stable and able to create new jobs in this challenging economy. By helping as many small business owners as possible gain NEW clients & remain economically healthy with the help of our pending platform.
Biggest Success
Acceptance to the Morrisville Chamber of Commerce Hot Of The Triangle program as one of 5 startups accepted out of 15+. That and securing our first paying customer while still 2 months away from launch 😉
What is your top challenge and how have you addressed it?
Getting noticed as a reputable option for small local businesses in this increasingly competative market to small local businesses. Addressed it by starting in region where we are located, Triangle/Raleigh, NC through launch of a contest to highlight local small businesses while promoting who we are and what problem we are solving. So far we have 300+ email addresses in 2 months from local small business owners interested in what we are doing.
Who is your most important role model?
Wow, tough question. I’d say a tie between Hillary Clinton and Lady Gaga. Be who you really are and stand up for what you believe in.