In the heart of rural America, where local connections often determine the strength and resilience of a community, Nearby Nearby is redefining how people discover what’s right outside their doors. Billed as the first platform designed specifically for rural communities, Nearby Nearby makes it easy to find and support local businesses, events, youth activities, jobs, volunteer opportunities, parks, trails, and essential services—all in one place.
The idea sparked when Founder and CEO, Rhonda Jean, moved to Chatham County, NC and struggled to find family activities. What began as a simple WordPress site quickly revealed a bigger need across rural communities. With no technical background, Rhonda relied on persistence, storytelling, and relationship-building—eventually securing a development team and early revenue through grassroots support.
This week, we sat down with Rhonda to learn more about her journey. In our conversation, she shared the story behind the company, the challenges and triumphs of being a rural founder, and the mission that drives her work to connect and strengthen communities across rural America.
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Q1: Could you tell us a little bit about your company?
Nearby Nearby is the first platform built specifically for rural America that brings everything local into one place. Whether it’s small businesses, community events, parks and trails, youth activities, jobs, volunteer opportunities, or essential services, we make it easy for both residents and visitors to discover what’s nearby.
At the heart of our platform is the One Search feature. Instead of bouncing between websites or relying on outdated directories, people can instantly see what’s around them—whether that’s a good spot to eat, a job posting, or even a chance to give back through volunteering.
Our mission is simple but powerful: to empower rural communities through seamless local discovery. By connecting residents, visitors, and small businesses, we help communities thrive not only economically, but also socially and culturally. We want rural communities to be visible, connected, and celebrated. Everything we build comes directly from the community itself. The platform is grassroots, created alongside the people it serves. We’re supporting small businesses and local volunteers, but also helping them work more effectively with larger institutions, service providers, and even recovery partners.
One area we’re expanding into is disaster response and recovery. In times of crisis, Nearby Nearby can quickly identify critical locations and resources—where to get help, supplies, or information. It also helps organizations share real-time needs, coordinate supplies, and prioritize where support is most urgent. After a disaster, the platform becomes a hub for recovery, connecting responders, volunteers, and residents with accurate information to speed up rebuilding.
So whether it’s day-to-day discovery or long-term resilience, Nearby Nearby is being built to be the first place people turn when they need something in a rural community.
Q2: What inspired you to start your own company?
I’ve always been an entrepreneur at heart, and I love connecting people with the things they need. The idea for Nearby Nearby came when I moved to Chatham County and struggled to find activities for my family. There wasn’t a single reliable source of up-to-date local information.
So, I started a simple WordPress site just to organize what I was finding. Honestly, it was meant to be a personal tool—but people quickly began using it. That’s when I realized this wasn’t just my problem. This was a gap in rural communities everywhere. What began as a side project grew into a vision for a platform that could connect people on a much larger scale and truly make a difference.
Q3: What previous experiences influence your role today?
Every stage of my life has prepared me for this role. As a former professional football player, I learned how to build trust, work as part of a team, and lead under pressure. Later, working as a photographer and field producer for an international television show, I honed my ability to connect people, places, and stories in meaningful ways.
I’ve always had a knack for seeing connections—between ideas, people, or opportunities. When I moved to Pittsboro, a rural community where I couldn’t find activities for my family, I followed that instinct and built a simple website. Looking back, it feels like all those seemingly different experiences were leading me here. Now, I’m channeling those skills into building something that helps entire communities feel connected, supported, and seen.
Q4: What are the biggest challenges you’ve encountered as a startup founder this far, and how did you overcome them?
One of the first challenges was realizing I had essentially started a tech company without any technical background. Beyond putting together a basic WordPress site, I didn’t know much about software development. But I kept showing up, building relationships, and telling the story of Nearby Nearby. That persistence paid off when I met the CEO of Tesslate, which eventually led to a full development team building this complex platform—at no cost.
Another big challenge has been being a rural founder. Most entrepreneurial resources are clustered in urban areas, so I often drove three or four hours just to attend accelerators or networking events. It was exhausting, but I kept showing up, asking questions, and finding support. Over time, I built an incredible network of fellow founders and organizations that I never would have connected with otherwise.
Finally, gaining attention from investors has been tough. Rural problems don’t always resonate with people who haven’t lived that experience. But I’ve always believed that Nearby Nearby needed to grow from within the community, not rely on outside investment. That clarity has led us to secure early revenue through pre-sold listings and revenue share agreements that align with our mission. It keeps us grounded in the people we serve, which is exactly where we want to be.
Q5: Do you have any mentors or role models who have inspired you while you have been building your business?
Yes, I’ve been fortunate to have a few key mentors who have made a big difference in this journey. One of the first was Jed Carlson, through the CED GRO8 Accelerator. Jed really helped me understand what I was building, who it was for, and why it mattered. He had a way of challenging my thinking in all the right ways—pushing me to connect the dots between my ideas, the rural communities I serve, and the platform itself. His guidance laid much of the foundation for what Nearby Nearby is today, and also helped shape me as a rural founder.
I’ve also been supported by Kevin Nicusanti from the Small Business Technical Development Center (SBTDC). Kevin has been instrumental in helping me access resources, navigate next steps, and feel less isolated as a rural entrepreneur. He shows up, makes connections, and has been an incredible advocate and cheerleader from the very beginning.
On the technical side, Taylor Vaneen Hoek of Atomic Object has been a great mentor. Even though she’s never been formally under contract with us, I’ve participated in several of her workshops, and she’s always made herself available for advice. She helped me make sense of the technical world in a way that worked for me, and she pushed me to ask better questions and hold my ground as I grew into this role.
And then there are countless others—some who offered deep support, and some who just shared a single piece of advice that stuck with me at exactly the right moment. But honestly, the greatest inspiration comes from the people I’m building this for: the small business owners, parents, and community leaders in rural towns across America. Hearing their stories, listening to their needs, and understanding how often they feel unseen—that’s what drives me every day.
Q6: What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs and future startup founders based on your own experiences and lessons learned?
My biggest piece of advice is this: start before you feel ready. Don’t wait for perfect conditions. The first version of Nearby Nearby was just a simple WordPress site, built because I saw a gap and believed others probably needed the same thing I did. You don’t need all the answers or a technical background to begin—you just need to start, keep showing up, build relationships, and share what you’re doing. That’s how momentum happens.
Also, say “yes” even when it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient. Some of my biggest breakthroughs came simply from being in the room.
And above all, remember who you’re building for. It’s easy to get caught up in trends, funding, or outside opinions. But staying rooted in the real people you’re serving will guide your decisions and sustain you when things get tough. At the end of the day, that’s what makes the work meaningful.
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👉 Why it matters: Rural entrepreneurs often face unique challenges—limited resources, long travel to accelerators, and less visibility with investors. But Nearby Nearby is proving that solutions grown from within the community can be powerful and scalable. By bridging the gap between residents, visitors, and small businesses, the platform is creating both economic opportunity and cultural connection. At RIoT, we’re proud to support startups like Nearby Nearby that are building technology with a human touch. Their story is a reminder that innovation doesn’t just happen in big cities—it’s thriving in rural America too.