Localogy

AI agents are transforming local search from a discovery tool into a transaction channel. For SMBs, getting chosen will increasingly depend on whether their data is accurate, accessible, and ready for an agent to act on. For years, “local search” has meant someone typing a query into Google, scanning a few results, and picking up the phone or driving over. That’s a slight over-simplification (someone could use Bing, Apple Maps, etc.), but you get the idea.

This edition of Local Radar highlights three startups betting that AI can reinvent some of the most established categories in local commerce. From Cascade rethinking construction job acquisition, to Bidbus reshaping the way used cars are sold, to Naïve streamlining the process of starting a business, the common thread is software designed for an AI-native world rather than retrofitted for one.

The big news from Snap this week is yesterday’s formal Specs launch. But more relevant for the Localogyverse is an overshadowed move the company made with a new social-local function. Known as Snapchat Plans, it’s a new set of features for creating, managing, and sharing local outings with friends. Under the category of local mapping and event planning – an ongoing side quest for Snap – Snapchat Plans lets users establish events or nearby meetups (think: pub crawl).

Tiger Pistol has announced that it’s now an official badged TikTok Channel Sales partner. This formally brings TikTok advertising into Tiger Pistol’s Creative Automation (CA) Studio, making it easier for its customers to build TikTok content and marketing campaigns – an otherwise challenging endeavor. To that end, Tiger Pistol describes this as a design-once, deploy-everywhere play. This is meant to lessen friction and democratize short-form video.

Thryv Holdings this week entered into a definitive agreement to sell its print business to PE firm Carolwood, LP for $142 million. Consisting of directory holdings in the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand, the all-cash deal marks a milestone in Thryv’s ongoing transition to a streamlined SaaS-based business. Importantly, the sale includes print assets only, while the internet Yellow Pages properties associated with these sold directories will stay with Thryv.

Yelp has announced that it’s teaming up with its recent acquiree, Hatch, to integrate OpenAI’s new GPT-Live-1 into Yelp Host. This should bring advanced voice AI capabilities to restaurants and service SMBs, letting them automate functions like fielding calls from inbound queries and new customers. There’s a lot there, so let’s unpack these elements one at a time. First, Hatch is a lead management and customer communications platform that Yelp acquired back in January for $300 million.

TikTok has always held ample potential as a marketing vehicle for SMBs. And for those who have adopted it, it’s been powerful. The issue is that so few SMBs – less than 5 percent, we’ve estimated – have done so. Leadzai wants to change that, and has lowered several TikTok adoption barriers. Specifically, Leadzai – an SMB marketing innovator used primarily by agencies – has integrated TikTok into its platform.

In a new lawsuit, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and 22 states allege that Amazon engaged in misleading and fraudulent practices that impacted about a million SMBs. Amazon denies the allegations, framing its moves as routine and aligned with standard practices in search-ad bid marketplaces. So what’s going on here? Starting with the complaint, it alleges that Amazon secretly charged businesses more for advertising, specifically involving its bid marketplace.

Do sporting events, concerts, and other big events in a given city boost that city’s adjacent business revenue? Venue-centric vendors and apparel shops certainly benefit, but what about the broader scope of foot traffic to bars, restaurants, and retailers in a given city? Placer.ai is out with new data to answer this question. Skipping right to the punchline, the results are mixed.

Do sporting events, concerts, and other big events in a given city boost that city’s adjacent business revenue? Venue-centric vendors and apparel shops certainly benefit, but what about the broader scope of bars, restaurants, and retailers in a given city? Placer.ai is out with new data to answer this question. Skipping right to the punchline, the results are mixed.