Meet Aneshai Smith, founder of Go See The City, a Smart City initiative that will offer a coupon app to end-users and user analytics to businesses and cities. It is designed to encourage engagement and exploration of a municipality by and between businesses, residents, tourists, and local government.
Formally called Grand Openings, Aneshai originally launched her company in 2019 as an Orlando-based marketing tech startup that helped connect nearby residents to grand opening events. Since its launch, she has worked with numerous brands from Warner Records to a local Rita’s Italian Ice and the City of Orlando.
However, now the app has evolved into Go See The City, which aims to help grow small businesses nationwide.
How it works
Go See the City is a Smart City initiative that aims to foster economic growth throughout a region while building brand loyalty for businesses. Consumers can easily find events to attend, discounts, coupons, and information about attractions in one place. The data-driven reward APP encourages consumers to explore local businesses either online during COVID-19 regulations or in-person.
The app allows businesses to gain the visibility they otherwise would not have. The MarTech app also provides businesses with key data analytics that allows them to market directly to users in their immediate geographic area. This helps them to build more effective marketing campaigns and continuously refine their strategies with data-driven insights. One major feature of the app is the “End of Day” offers that allow eateries to issue deep-discounted food alerts in real-time, to nearby users to reduce food waste. This will assist many restaurants and food trucks who have ample amounts of food waste due to fluctuating foot-traffic during COVID.
For municipalities, the platform provides analytics that allows them to understand civic engagement, promote small businesses, recognize over and underused areas, assist with tourist exploration, and much more.
Go See the City is set to first launch in Orange County, Florida within the year. When they do, the app will provide the County with local economic development data, enable additional small business support opportunities, and enhance promotion before and during live events hosted by the County. The County’s Chief Innovation and Emerging Technology Officer to Mayor Jerry L. Demings, Andrea Wesser-Brawner confirmed the app’s potential for assisting local small venues:
“Not only is Orange County the ideal location to launch this mobile tool, it is exciting to see a home-grown, tech business supporting its peers, especially amidst the COVID pandemic. By enabling higher foot traffic as drivers and pedestrians come near open businesses, higher revenue generation for these businesses is being realized. And once the local economy bounces back, the app will serve a much larger population.” In addition to the diverse population of year-round residents, Orlando usually attracts 75 million visitors each year, prime potential customers for local businesses to entice into their shops via the app.
“I am super excited about the partnership with Orange County. I believe home is the best place to start,” says Aneshai. “We have done a lot and learned a lot within a year and a half and Orange County has supported our growth since the idea stage of the company,” she continues. “As a Black tech founder, I know the difficulties of finding funding, garnering partnerships, and every other obstacle that comes with the title. So, to be supported in this manner is amazing, to say the least. We’re looking forward to getting started and helping small businesses which is our passion.”
While the app will initially focus on the Orange County area, Go See The City is set to partner with other municipalities in the coming months. To support businesses that are struggling during the pandemic the subscription-based service is offering a limited number of businesses early access at no cost for a limited time. Those interested in taking part should sign-up on their website. The app will also launch their sponsored #FoodGrab feature on the app, where users can access complimentary food and or drinks sponsored by organizations, philanthropists, brands, and individuals. This initiative will benefit the community and the businesses both.
For more information, visit GoSeeTheCity.com
For press inquiries, contact hello@GoSeeTheCity.com or (407) 455-8204