{"id":44732,"date":"2023-10-20T15:38:14","date_gmt":"2023-10-20T15:38:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/startupsmart.test\/2023\/10\/20\/meet-panelhype-the-geelong-startup-helping-local-small-businesses-turn-mobile-devices-into-advertising-space-startupsmart\/"},"modified":"2023-10-20T15:38:14","modified_gmt":"2023-10-20T15:38:14","slug":"meet-panelhype-the-geelong-startup-helping-local-small-businesses-turn-mobile-devices-into-advertising-space-startupsmart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.startupsmart.com.au\/uncategorized\/meet-panelhype-the-geelong-startup-helping-local-small-businesses-turn-mobile-devices-into-advertising-space-startupsmart\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet PanelHype, the Geelong startup helping local small businesses turn mobile devices into advertising space – StartupSmart"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Five entrepreneurs have teamed up to launch a digital marketplace that enables small businesses in the Victorian regional centre of Geelong turn mobile devices into ad space.<\/p>\n

PanelHype\u2019s peer-to-peer display advertising platform is an innovative way to connect the Geelong business community and its creators are hoping to strengthen local businesses.<\/p>\n

Tech savvy entrepreneurs Steven George, Paul Wong, Glenn Schmidt, Ian Priddle and Brandon Burns set up the venture to make advertising more accessible for smaller players.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt allows anyone or any business who has a physical premise to put up a screen and connect it to our network,\u201d PanelHype CEO Steven George told SmartCompany<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat becomes available to advertisers.\u201d<\/p>\n

The PanelHype team hope the platform will be a game-changer for Geelong businesses by enabling operators in the region to monetise the promotion of each other.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe really just wanted to create a way for businesses to have access to advertising,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Small businesses such as gyms, cafes, hair salons and more can download PanelHype for free and auction off screen space on tablets, phones, TVs or computers at their business premises.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you already own a device it will cost you nothing and you will be making money for nothing,\u201d George says.<\/p>\n

George says the revenue model is transparent, with the price of screen spaces determined by bidders.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome of our most active advertisers are [business owners] that host screens,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

The platform provides detailed insights like demographics and foot traffic so advertisers, including small businesses themselves, can select which screen spaces will be best for them.<\/p>\n

Auctions for screen space run every hour with screens at various Geelong merchants up for grabs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe price fluctuates hour to hour,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Businesses keep 80% of any ad revenue generated on their screen and PanelHype keeps 20% in commission.<\/p>\n

The startup is already running several pilots with businesses in the area including an Anytime Fitness gym and at Avalon airport.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are now inviting anyone that would like to earn money displaying ads, or who would like to advertise across the network, to join,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

PanelHype\u2019s digital marketplace is a step towards rebuilding Geelong, says George.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a sentiment echoed by Tribal Campus chief executive Nick Stanley, whose tech company is based in Geelong West.<\/p>\n

Stanley welcomes PanelHype, calling it another great addition to Geelong\u2019s emerging tech scene.<\/p>\n

\u201cApplying a modern business model to an established industry is exactly how brands like Uber have disrupted established business models,\u201d Stanley says.<\/p>\n

\u201cI believe PanelHype has the same type of disruptive potential.\u201d<\/p>\n

These companies are working to transform Geelong, a region once dominated by manufacturing, into a lucrative \u201cSilicon Bay\u201d where small businesses are empowered and enabled to achieve better growth through technology.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of the founders are Geelong people and we see that we identity as a manufacturing hub and there\u2019s now a push, from us and some of our colleagues, to make it into a tech hub,\u201d George says.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m surprised how well [PanelHype] is taking off with businesses supporting businesses.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has been great for the community.\u201d<\/p>\n

This article was first published on SmartCompany.<\/em><\/p>\n

Follow StartupSmart on<\/em> Facebook,<\/em> Twitter, <\/em>LinkedIn <\/em>and <\/em>SoundCloud.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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