Role 1334
Platform-Based Ecosystem for Local Service SMBs & Freelancers
- Building a trusted, local-first marketplace that strengthens in-person services and drives repeat usage.
- Young and dynamic team building technology focused on real-world outcomes.
- Reduces friction in local service discovery and builds structured trust between providers and customers.
- Leveraging intelligent systems and merit-based mechanics to improve discovery, accountability, and long-term growth.
- Part of the Startup-Gurus incubator programme
- Avantizon is transforming how small and medium-sized service businesses, freelancers, and students grow, network, and succeed.
- They are building a local-first marketplace designed specifically for in-person services — prioritizing trust, repeat usage, and accountability over one-off digital transactions.
- Unlike traditional global gig platforms, Avantizon focuses on location-based services such as trades, home services, beauty, tutoring, and youth-led ventures.
- The platform integrates a structured marketplace, transparent provider profiles with real-world portfolios, a reinforcing community layer, and a gamified tier system that rewards consistency and performance. This creates a comprehensive local ecosystem that converts trust into transactions and transactions into repeat business.
Problems:
- Rising Costs and Financial Instability: 43% of SMEs report escalating expenses, with 41% citing inflation as a major concern. Over 25% face insolvency risks if they lose a key client or supplier, while many freelancers report fluctuating and inconsistent income as a major challenge.
- Limited Growth Tools and Networks: SMEs and freelancers struggle to access scalable local discovery, structured credibility systems, and reliable networks, leading to lost opportunities and inconsistent income.
- Technological Disruption: Rapid advancements, including generative AI, are reshaping customer expectations and increasing competition. Many local service providers face challenges adapting to evolving digital discovery and trust mechanisms.
- Broken Lead-Fee Model: Platforms like Bark and Checkatrade sell each customer request to 3-5 competing tradespeople at £10-30 each, earning £60-200 per request before any work is done. 4 out of 5 tradespeople pay for leads they never convert, and reviews are locked behind monthly paywalls. The platform profits whether the tradesperson wins the job or not.
Market Opportunity:
- The Gig Economy is Booming: Freelancers are projected to compriseover 50% of the workforce by 2030, driving demand for platforms that support flexible and scalable business models.
- SMEs as Economic Powerhouses: SMEs contribute over 50% of global GDP yet face growth, visibility, and sustainability challenges, creating demand for structured local discovery platforms.
- Local Service Fragmentation: The UK local services market exceeds £100B annually, yet discoveryremainsfragmented and trust mechanisms are inconsistent — creating space for a local-first marketplace built around accountability.
- Financial Potential and Revenue Streams: Multiple revenue streams, including marketplace commissions, subscription plans (Starter, Pro, Enterprise), and future SMB management tools.
- International Expansion Potential: The supply-first, local expansion model allows scalability across major UK cities, then into Europe and emerging markets with similar fragmented local service ecosystems.
Current Traction and Future Plans:
Avantizon launched in April 2026 and has been actively onboarding local service providers through direct founder-led outreach. The platform currently has 50+ verified businesses listed with 80+ services on the marketplace across Southeast London. Cold calling has proven the highest-converting acquisition channel at over 70% conversion rate. Approximately 400 active users have engaged with the platform organically, with 20,000+ views across the first two social media posts. The team has also produced episodic marketing content featuring real providers on the platform, with the first episode accumulating 14,000+ views.
The platform is live and actively growing. The immediate focus is on increasing provider density in Southeast London through direct outreach and cold calling, strengthening trust signals (messaging, reviews tied to completed work, tier visibility), and building consumer-side demand once supply density reaches critical mass in target boroughs. The team aims to reach 100+ verified businesses in the coming weeks before scaling demand-side acquisition.
Moving forward, the roadmap includes gamified tier expansion, personalized discovery and recommendation systems, SMB workflow tools, and analytics dashboards designed to support high-volume providers. The long-term objective is to establish Avantizon as the trusted infrastructure layer for local in-person services.
Investing NED’s
The incoming Non-Executive Directors will be encouraged to become shareholders in the Company with an initial investment of a minimum of £35k to £50k to align their interests with that of the existing Board Members who are shareholders. A copy of the pitch deck will be provided to candidates who meet the criteria and on signing an NDA. The company is pre-approved for SEIS & EIS tax relief. It is expected that the role will require approximately 2 or 3 days per month – potentially more in the early stages.
We are looking for Investing NEDs with experience and expertise in one or more of the following areas:
- Experience in the trades, home services, or local services industry - whether as an operator, franchisor, or investor
- Social media marketing and digital growth, or strong existing relationships with those who have built audiences and brand in this space
- Scaling marketplace or platform businesses from early traction through to mainstream adoption
- Commercial and sales leadership, particularly building supply-side density and driving consumer demand
- Financial governance and investor relations, supporting a founder team through its first institutional raise and beyond
- Regulatory or legal experience relevant to a commission-based digital marketplace
- Brand and community building at a local level, with an understanding of trust-driven consumer behaviour
Applying for the role: please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Closing date: 4 weeks from today
