Introducing Souq

A marketplace built for
real communities

Souq is a full-featured iOS and Android marketplace app connecting local buyers, sellers, and service providers in the Twin Cities and beyond.

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iOS + Android
Cross-platform app (Flutter)
Beta
Currently in active beta testing
2024
Founded in the Twin Cities, MN

A real problem with a digital solution

Local commerce in tight-knit communities is still fragmented, informal, and hard to scale. Souq changes that.

⚠️

The Problem

  • 🔴 Local sellers and service providers rely on Facebook groups, word of mouth, and paper flyers
  • 🔴 No centralized, trusted marketplace for local community commerce
  • 🔴 No tools for local businesses to manage orders, bookings, or customer relationships digitally
  • 🔴 Large platforms like Etsy or Amazon don't serve hyperlocal, community-focused needs

The Souq Solution

  • 🟢 A full-featured mobile marketplace where local sellers can list products, manage orders, and get paid
  • 🟢 Service booking with provider management, scheduling, and real-time availability
  • 🟢 TikTok-style video reels for product discovery and community engagement
  • 🟢 AI-powered search and recommendation engine built right into the app

A large and underserved market

The local commerce and community marketplace space is growing fast, and no dominant player owns it.

$1.1T
US Local Commerce Market
Total addressable market for local goods and services in the United States
$667B
US Mobile Commerce
Mobile-driven shopping and services, growing at 15% year over year
4.4M
Twin Cities Metro Population
Dense, diverse, and digitally active market. Our home and our launch pad.

Two clear revenue streams

Souq is built to generate recurring, scalable revenue from both subscription access and transaction volume.

📅
Revenue Stream 1
Monthly

Seller Subscription Fee

Sellers and service providers pay a recurring monthly fee to list on Souq and access the full suite of business tools: order management, analytics, scheduling, and more.

💳
Revenue Stream 2
23%

Transaction Fee Per Order

Souq takes 23% on every completed transaction through the platform. This aligns our revenue directly with seller success. When sellers grow, we grow with them.

📈
Why This Model Works

Combining subscription MRR with transaction-based revenue creates a highly predictable, scalable income base. As transaction volume grows, revenue scales automatically. Early sellers get locked in with subscription continuity, reducing churn.

A full-featured platform, built in-house

Every feature on Souq was designed and built by our team. We own the full tech stack from the ground up.

🛍️

Product Marketplace

Sellers list physical products with photos, pricing, variants, and descriptions. Buyers browse, filter by category, and checkout directly in-app.

📅

Service Booking

Service providers set availability and let customers book appointments directly. Multi-provider support with per-provider calendars and real-time slots.

🎬

Video Reels

Sellers post short-form videos to showcase products and services. TikTok-style vertical scroll feed designed to drive discovery and engagement.

🤖

AI-Powered Search

Souq AI understands natural language queries and surfaces the right products, businesses, and services. Embedded directly in the Explore screen.

💬

In-App Messaging

Real-time chat between buyers and sellers. Full conversation history, media sharing, and push notifications for every message.

📊

Seller Dashboard

Full analytics for sellers: revenue, orders, product views, booking data, team management, and inventory — all in one place.

🗺️

Map-Based Explore

Buyers can discover local sellers and service providers on an interactive map. Filter by category, distance, and availability.

🔔

Push Notifications

Automated push alerts for order updates, booking confirmations, new messages, and promotions using Firebase Cloud Messaging.

🔐

Secure Auth and Payments

Phone number and anonymous sign-in via Firebase Auth. Stripe-powered checkout with order confirmation codes for secure pickup.

Where we are today

We are a small team that has built a lot. Here is where Souq stands right now.

Current Status

Beta Testing
in Progress

The Souq app is live and being tested with real users. We are moving toward a public launch. All core systems are operational.

Flutter Firebase iOS + Android Cloud Functions FCM Notifications Stripe Ready Google Maps AI Search

Product roadmap

We have a clear path from beta to public launch to regional expansion.

Phase 1 — Done
Foundation
  • Full app built
  • Firebase backend
  • Core marketplace
  • Push notifications
  • Team complete
🔥
Phase 2 — Now
Beta + Refinement
  • Beta user testing
  • Bug resolution
  • Seller onboarding
  • Payment integration
  • Performance tuning
🚀
Phase 3 — Next
Public Launch
  • App Store release
  • Growth campaign
  • First seller cohort
  • PR and press
  • Local partnerships
🌍
Phase 4 — Future
Scale
  • Regional expansion
  • New verticals
  • Advertising platform
  • B2B tools
  • Series A

Invest in SouqGo

Ready to back the future of local commerce?

We are actively building and looking for the right partners to grow with. If you want to learn more or discuss an investment, reach out directly to the founding team.

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