About
Why we're building MEZZO.
It all started with simply wanting our neighborhoods and communities to thrive, for everyone.
From our founder, Nick:
I come from a family of small business owners.
Both on my mother's side, and my father's side. Small business owners, local entrepreneurs, solo operators running their own shops all by themselves.
Unsurprisingly, providing for their own families was the primary motivation to start a business. But, surprisingly, several of those businesses grew and have lasted many years, even decades. And why they were successful came in part because the community around them supported their businesses and shopped locally; there was an organic connection made along the way between shop owner and its patrons.
We all know this isn't the norm, sadly. Nearly 1 in 5 businesses fail in the first year, with only 50% making it beyond five years. Whether it's sudden market shifts, competitive pressures, financial burdens, or so many other factors, keeping a business open is incredibly challenging.
So how can we provide added support so those business don't just stay afloat but thrive too?
MEZZO is a community-building app. It's intentionally being designed & constructed to do two things: bring people together locally in an organic way, and support the small businesses that depend on that same local community to succeed.
Why Philly.
I've lived in and around Philadelphia my whole life. I know the corners, the cafés, the neighborhoods that feel different on a Tuesday than they do on a Saturday.
Launching here isn't a marketing decision. It's the only place I'd trust myself to build MEZZO. Because I know the people I'd be building it for, and I care a lot about whether it actually works for them.
How I'm building it.
Slowly, with intention, and alongside the people it’s meant to serve. I’m starting with conversations, one shop owner at a time, listening for what would actually help them the most each day. I’m also spending time with the people I hope will use MEZZO, learning about what would make them open the app, why they go to and give their business to certain shops, and what would make them come back each time.
Every one of these conversations allows me a different perspective to consider & reconsider how MEZZO will evolve over time. That feedback loop is the foundation for us building something great. And the real product here, truthfully, is the relationships that MEZZO makes possible.
Hope to see you soon,
Nick
Founder, MEZZO
Built for independent businesses, not big chains.