By Ari Sinudom, DVI Intern
We at Downtown Vision know there are a ton of things to do in #DTJax in any given day, but do others? A local Jacksonvillian may have solved that issue. We sat down with Zachary Schwartz, the Founder and CEO of intoGo, a new app on the market that hopes to change the way people find things to do in Downtown and throughout Jacksonville. So, we’ve partnered with intoGo to incorporate all things Downtown.
What is intoGo?
IntoGo is a mobile app, the first of its kind. Unlike other online directories, intoGo learns each user’s preferences to give suggestions for fun things to do. When users swipe right to like something or left to dislike, the swipes teach intoGo the user’s interests so the app can give specific recommendations. IntoGo is strictly about having fun; and covers events, outdoor recreation, destinations, nightlife, dining, shopping, parks and more in the user’s area. Its mission is to help people explore, experience and enjoy their community, one place at a time. IntoGo has one primary goal: to become the go-to resource when one is wondering what to do.
Google or Yelp list things to do around town, but can’t make specifically tailored recommendations for the user. IntoGo has the innate ability to capture ratings from each user for every recommendation.
Why Jacksonville?
Jacksonville originally drew Schwartz in when his family moved to town. He built a local directory called thecity.guide, then received first place at the 2015 One Spark in the “technology” category and secured investment. Schwartz then met his tech team, who all lived here and became a perfect fit.
Not only does Jacksonville have wide-ranging demographics, but it’s also a second-tier technology market. Residents are tech-friendly but not necessarily tech-savvy, making Jacksonville a perfect test market for intoGo. IntoGo headquarters are located in Downtown at 6 E Bay St.; an area the staff believes is the leading innovation hub in Jacksonville. IntoGo’s team enjoys the amenities and dining within walking distance of its office and is fond of the local businesses that foster and cater to a Downtown audience.
How does intoGo work?
- In the Explore section, businesses, events and places are stacked like a deck of cards. Clicking on a card will reveal pictures and details. Users swipe right if they like it, swipe left if they don’t and swipe up to skip. With each swipe, the app is able to learn the user’s preferences.
- Under the Guide Me section, users can see businesses, events and places recommended by intoGo. The more you swipe, the more confident the app is at giving suggestions.
- Users can set filters to refine their interests and distance. They can also search within intoGo for a specific interest.
- All likes are stored in the account tab for easy referencing and are sorted based on what’s closest to the user’s location.
IntoGo is integrated with Yelp and Facebook, making it easy for users to see more information and ratings for a specific interest. At 12 weeks old and 6,000 downloads, the app is clearly making waves and changing how Jacksonvillians do fun.
What’s intoGo’s future?
Schwartz believes intoGo can become a diversified internet tool, from app to web and mobile to desktop, where people go to make plans, to explore when they land in a new city or to figure out where to take that special someone on a first date. The app has more on its way in the coming updates: merging profiles for group suggestions, targeted in-app advertising and coupons, recipes and social elements. IntoGo wants to help enable users to find cool places where they can create memories, share experiences and enjoy life. The app is truly living by its slogan and is making it easy to “Find Fun Faster.”