Preston Junger

In my column, I’ll explore emerging technologies (like blockchain, distributed ledgers and cryptocurrency) that are changing the world for the better and improving our lives. I will also highlight the challenges and solutions that all startups and founders face, including building the product, raising capital, growing a community, and most importantly what it takes to create a sales engine for your business. I will also interview some founders, investors and leaders you won’t want to miss.

AYCT: The new front page of Localvore.co looks like a sort of Yelp for local food and farmers. So, it’s more of a local food “discovery” platform now?

DW: Localvore helps people find what locals love, not what tourists hate. We get that people would try to understand Localvore by positioning us within the context of other businesses, like Yelp or Groupon – but the reality is we’re trying to do things that those businesses never attempted or positioned as core parts of their brand. We’re… Show more

AYCT: The new front page of Localvore.co looks like a sort of Yelp for local food and farmers. So, it’s more of a local food “discovery” platform now?

DW: Localvore helps people find what locals love, not what tourists hate. We get that people would try to understand Localvore by positioning us within the context of other businesses, like Yelp or Groupon – but the reality is we’re trying to do things that those businesses never attempted or positioned as core parts of their brand. We’re a different animal. We help people find the best in local food. 
Right off the bat, we’re creating and displaying connections between businesses that users know they can trust. So, for example, you can look at a restaurant’s profile, see what farms and producers they’re sourcing their food from, and trust that those farmers and producers have verified that information before it’s presented publicly. Show less

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 24, 2017 — Wide Open Media Group, the leading publisher network dedicated to the Heartland of America, has officially announced the hiring of Preston Junger as Vice President of Sales. He will help bring brand awareness as well as new revenue and partnership opportunities to the company as its digital content-focused strategies continue to reach tens of millions of readers and followers across four web properties.

I met the whole founding team (plus their recently hired CRO and head of Community Management, ex-Yelp leader and native Vermonter Preston Junger — and a very mournful looking dog named Trinket) there on a recent afternoon for an interview and craft beer — local, of course — from their Kegerator.