Herewood Hub
Rural community platform (local services, nature, pub)
The Problem
Rural communities are underserved by tech. Information about local services, events, and nature is scattered or non-existent.
Rural residents, visitors, local businesses, community organizations, and pubs in countryside areas.
Facebook groups, word of mouth, outdated parish websites, or simply not knowing what's available.
Missed community events, businesses struggling to reach locals, visitors missing the best experiences.
The Solution
Digital hub for rural communities combining local services directory, nature guides, pub events, and community noticeboard.
Hyper-local focus. Built for rural needs, not urban assumptions. All community info in one place.
Key Features
| Feature | What it does | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| [object Object] | Directory of local tradespeople and businesses | Find help quickly |
| [object Object] | Walking routes and wildlife guides | Discover your area |
| [object Object] | What's on at local pubs | Never miss a quiz night |
| [object Object] | Community announcements and requests | Stay connected |
The AI Explained
For non-technical people
Gemini AI for content curation and nature identification.
AI helps identify wildlife from photos and suggests relevant content based on user interests.
The agents in this tool
| Agent Name | What it does | Human equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Nature Agent | Identifies wildlife and suggests trails | Local naturalist |
| Content Agent | Curates relevant local information | Community manager |
Personalized local discovery without expensive content creation.
Employees this replaces (or augments)
| Role | Salary (UK avg) | What the AI does instead |
|---|---|---|
| Community Manager | £25,000/yr | Content curation and engagement |
Why I Built This
Started as a scam log for the elderly, then evolved. Added wildlife/bird spotting so users are always on their phone logging nature. When they think "am I being scammed?" they can check something already top of mind. Turned into a community platform that helps pubs triangulate their events with what locals want.
Need someone embedded in a rural community who can pilot and refine the model for replication.
Replicate across hundreds of rural communities. The "Nextdoor" for countryside living.
The Business Model
How it makes money
| Revenue stream | Price point | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Local business listings | £9-29/month | Local businesses |
| Premium features | £2.99/month | Engaged community members |
| Sponsorship | Custom | Local and regional brands |
Current status
[TOM: Current users]
[TOM: Current MRR]
No
Yes
Revenue potential
Conservative: 1 community × 50 businesses × £19/mo = £11,400 ARR
Medium: 10 communities × 50 businesses × £19/mo = £114,000 ARR
The Market
10,000+ rural communities in UK. Growing "countryside living" trend post-pandemic.
Rural migration increased post-pandemic. People want community connection. Tech finally reaching rural areas.
Competition
| Competitor | Their price | Our advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Facebook Groups | £0 | Purpose-built, all-in-one, local focus |
| Nextdoor | £0 | Rural-specific features (nature, trails) |
| Parish websites | Varies | Modern, mobile-friendly, active |
What's Already Built
Tech stack (plain English)
| Component | What it means | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| React + Vite | Fast modern web app | Works even on slow rural connections |
| Gemini AI | Google's AI for content | Smart nature guides |
What's live
- •Services directory
- •Nature trails
- •Pub events
- •Noticeboard
What's ready but not launched
- •Business dashboards
- •Premium subscriptions
What's planned
- •Mobile app
- •Multi-community expansion
- •Parish council integrations
Deployment status
The Roles Needed
E-Myth Hats
This business needs these hats
| Hat | What they do | Hours/week | Could be same person as... |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community Ops | Build local engagement, onboard businesses | 15-20 | — |
| Sales | Sign up local businesses, secure sponsors | 10-15 | Community Ops |
1 person embedded in a rural community
Model replicable to other communities. TradesConnection synergy.
The Partnership Terms
20-30%
24 months
30-day trial
Community growth and revenue milestones
Example milestone structure
| Milestone | Equity unlocked |
|---|---|
| 500 active community members | 10% |
| 50 paying businesses | +10% |
| Second community launched | +10% |
What Tom provides
- ✓Tech development
- ✓AI features
- ✓Infrastructure
- ✓Expansion playbook
What you provide
- ✓Community building
- ✓Local relationships
- ✓Business onboarding
- ✓15+ hours/week
Is This For You?
This is for you if...
- You live in or are connected to a rural community
- You're passionate about community building
- You know local businesses and residents
- You want to make a real difference locally
This is NOT for you if...
- You live in a city with no rural connections
- You're not interested in community work
- You need immediate income
Someone living in a rural community who knows everyone, loves the area, and wants to bring it together digitally.
Getting Started
If you apply and we agree:
Week 1-2
- •Platform setup for your community
- •Business outreach list
- •Launch plan
Day 30
- •Review community growth
- •Formalize agreement
Month 2-6
- •Full community rollout
- •Business onboarding
- •Second community prep
The Buzz
For non-technical people
This isn't a business idea. It's a working product. The hard part — building software that works — is done.
What you're actually getting:
- A complete community platform ready to launch
- Replicable model for multiple communities
- First-mover advantage in rural tech
A new family moves to the village. Within their first week, they find a plumber, discover 3 walking trails, learn about the pub quiz, and feel like they belong.
Local businesses report 40%+ increase in local customers. Community events see higher attendance. Residents feel more connected.