April 26, 2024

Northeast Florida business profile

Town Wizard: The website and mobile app is branching out

Charlotte Crane | 3/8/2012

Town Wizard
Mike Ragsdale started his 30A.com website and mobile app as a hobby to help visitors to Santa Rosa Beach enjoy the scenic stretch of county road 30A. The guide highlights places to visit and eat, upcoming events and other details about the area. Then two of his friends, Jeff Armstrong and Darren Nelson, started similar mobile guides in Panama City and Destin — and soon their sidelines ballooned into a partnership, Town Wizard.

"People were asking, 'How can we get this in our community?' " says Armstrong, the company president. "That was sort of the light bulb that went off for us."

Town Wizard helps users set up websites for their own hometowns to streamline information about events, shops and scenic places. For a $795 startup fee plus $249 monthly, customers receive software and setup help, two apps to integrate with their website and ongoing technical or marketing support. Buyers can offset the cost by selling ads on the site.

By the close of 2011, some 15 months after its launch, Town Wizard had fostered 150 startups in 10 countries on five continents. Among its customers: Community-booster entrepreneurs in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and Merida, Mexico.

Tags: Northeast

Florida Business News

Florida News Releases

Florida Trend Video Pick

PSTA announced electric fleet plan
PSTA announced electric fleet plan

The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority is going all-electric after receiving a $1.5 million grant.

Video Picks | Viewpoints@FloridaTrend

Ballot Box

Do you think recreational marijuana should be legal in Florida?

  • Yes, I'm in favor of legalizing marijuana
  • Absolutely not
  • I'm on the fence
  • Other (share thoughts in the comment section below)

See Results

Florida Trend Media Company
490 1st Ave S
St Petersburg, FL 33701
727.821.5800

© Copyright 2024 Trend Magazines Inc. All rights reserved.