With a successful launch in Austin, TX since its debut at South by Southwest Festival, Localeur today announced plans to expand into Houston on May 31.
The startup is timing its launch in advance of the buzz worthy indie music festival, Free Press Summer Fest, which takes place June 1-2 in Houston.
Localeur looks to help Millennial travelers experience local culture by providing “credible local recommendations from a curated community of local insiders”, according to it’s website. Localeur is co-founded by Joah Spearman and Chase White, who met during their time with Austin-based ratings-and-review software company, Bazaarvoice.
Localeur was named a “favorite mobile app of SXSW” by Digital Trends, and has investors ranging from popular New York DJ Mick (formerly “Mick Boogie”) to Austin-based Sweet Leaf Tea founder Clayton Christopher.
“Many of my friends are from Houston and rave about their city, and for good reason,” said Spearman, CEO. “My friends tell me what bars, boutiques and restaurants to check out, and these are the types of people who will be Localeurs. Houston is important for us in advance of other major metros and launching our iPhone app this year.”
Thus far, Localeur has raised $250,000 in angel funding and believes its diverse mix of well-connected investors will help it expand into new markets in 2013 following the close of a seed round, which they are currently raising with angels and venture capitalists on the East Coast.
Since its Austin launch, the company has secured additional angel investors including hedge fund manager Travis Devitt, a member of the influential Central Texas Angel Network, and Southern California-based investors in Michael Francis, director of strategy for biotech giant Amgen, and his wife, Janel Jefferson, an accomplished artist, and former Goldman Sachs VP and wealth management expert Adam Bain and his wife, April, an LA public school teacher.
Before Localeur, Spearman co-founded an experiential marketing agency which counted SXSW and ESPN X Games as clients, and led Bazaarvoice’s market strategy in travel. The Capital City African American Chamber of Commerce named him Emerging Business Leader of the Year, this year. White previously coordinated software design for Bazaarvoice retail and brand clients for online user-generated content programs, and earlier taught social media and entrepreneurship to students at Duke University as part of its Talent Identification Program.