We had the good fortune of connecting with Zack Anselm and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Zack, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Therr is a mobile app that started with the idea of helping promote local bands and artists. I thought it would be fun to create a social platform where people could share what they are listening to at a particular location, and their friends could discover content when they visit those same locations the next day. Ideas are cheap though, so eventually I started building the app. The thought process started as a challenge to myself and it evolved quickly. When I became more intrigued by startup culture, it took the challenge to a whole new level. I now hope to solve a problem that people face in communities everywhere; connection without shameless self promoting. Although the idea started with music, now I’m focused on any media that people use to share their story with others in the local community.
Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Therr started as simply a fun idea, but through persistence and consistent effort, it has developed into something truly unique. As a small group we have built an app that would normally take at least 10 developers and a whole lot of time to create. We understand that it will take us more time to build, but we have been most successful by always achieving incremental milestones. Every bit of effort compiles, and the final product is one cohesive design that encompasses everything we are hoping to one day be. It’s important that we are aware of a constantly changing market, and that we adapt to the wants and needs of our user base. It’s never been easy. I always tell myself that I could spend 10,000 hours playing video games and watching Netflix with no outcome, or I could spend that same time building a single product and eventually have something awesome that everyone can benefit from.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This is a perfect question because it’s exactly the problem Therr app hopes to solve. You always want to impress friends and family when they visit and show them how fun the city you live in can be. We want Therr to be an easy solution to find the best events and places that make your locale so unique. Map apps are great, but we found they lack a certain social element. They often don’t tell you what events are currently happening or starting soon. It would also be great to build direct connections with other people who frequent those same spaces.
Dallas has tons of variety. I usually take friends to rooftop bars/restaurants in Deep Ellum during the day. The Bishop Arts District is also a great area for walking around, grabbing lunch, and shopping. We might go to Legacy Hall in Plano for a variety of different food options and beers. Since we’re on the topic of food, one of my favorite restaurants is Stirr. They actually have at least 2 locations in Dallas. And finally I love to discover murals throughout the city. I’ve found great ones in lower Greenville, Deep Ellum, and all over the city really. Everyone wants to get some good vacation photos, so why not have an epic background.
We would make plenty of time for all of this then spend time at the pool and maybe rent a boat to hangout on the lake. If we planned ahead there would be a concert that same week and we could catch some live music at one of many venues or maybe it’s a standup comedian who is in town.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I owe a lot of credit to Vy Le and Rob Scales both for being sounding boards and contributing to the project that is now Therr app. They each became interested in the project, and we meet every so often to brainstorm and better understand what users want out of a local-first social app.
Website: https://therr.app
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therr.app/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/therr
Twitter: https://twitter.com/therr_app
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therrapp
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCedsWTJ8-1EviLR57VP6SIg