Connecting the Community
- One local business at a time -
OUR STORY
Mapvil started as an idea to help support the small businesses that were disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although some received aid from the CARES Act - Payroll Protection Program, not all small businesses received such help and those that qualified are still dependent on consumers to stay afloat.
In the past few months, we saw a strong desire from the community to support local vendors, but found a lack of tools to connect them with relevant small businesses.
It's times like this where it may be more convenient to shop at a large chain, but we realize the impact our dollar can have. Supporting small businesses means supporting jobs for people in the community and preserving the entities that makes it unique.
WHO ARE WE?
Hi there! My name is Annie Wei and I am the CEO and co-founder of Mapvil, LLC (aka. The Mom & Pop Village). I was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii and attended Boston University majoring in Finance & Marketing and minoring in Psychology. I currently work in a corporate strategic analyst role for a large regional bank in Massachusetts.
In the past few months, I worked closely with small businesses- underwriting Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loan applications to help get them much needed funding to keep their businesses in operation. During this time, I spoke with a number of mom & pops who, unfortunately, did not qualify for the government program. Having heard their pain points and struggles, I felt the need to take action... "This can't be it. There has to be more I can do to help," I thought.
Hawaii is many things- lush green mountains, beautiful beaches, fantastic food- but most importantly, it represents a culture rich with history and filled with love for its people (kama'aina) and communities. Small businesses are quintessential to the identity of our little communities and I've heard how they have suffered in the face of COVID-19. Seeing my favorite childhood businesses force to shut down from lack of support is devastating. Something in my mind clicked and Mapvil, LLC was created.
The vision I have for Mapvil is vast and continues to grow each day. Mapvil isn't just another directory for businesses, it's an online platform meant to empower, support, and connect the hardworking mom and pops who deserve to have their voices heard and presence acknowledged. They are the backbones of our communities and now is the time to take action.
My name is Brandon Lockwood and I am the CFO and co-founder of Mapvil, LLC. I was also born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii and attended Amherst College majoring in Asian Languages and Civilizations with a pre-med background. I currently work in an operations analyst role for a Boston-based firm in the financial services sector.
My family operates a small, family-owned educational tourism business in Hawaii and I grew up in an environment that gave me opportunities to be involved in the business in a variety of ways. Running a small business is not easy. It takes a lot of thought and effort and the hours often do not confine themselves to the listed operating hours. COVID-19 has thrown a new complex variable into this equation. While there isn’t a lot I can do for my family’s business since travel to Hawaii has been severely limited through legislation, I hope to be able to help out other small businesses through Mapvil.
Community is one of the tenets of my family’s small business and it is also a tenet foundational for Mapvil. We understand that the small businesses and the people who run them are important parts of our local community and give our communities the unique culture that we experience every day. The loss of a single franchise of a national chain means only that we may need to drive another 15 minutes to find another, but the loss of a local business leaves a void that isn’t easily filled. It is important that we make sure we do what we can to give these businesses the support they need so that they can continue to survive, thrive, and keep our local communities vibrant.
MISSION & VISION
Not all small businesses have the capabilities to reach large audiences, but they undoubtedly have a significant impact on local economies and culture. Our mission is to assist and empower these 'mom & pop' shops by providing a platform for them to share their history, products, and services with the broader online audience.
Our team finds unique businesses to include in our directory and makes an effort to work personally with vendors listed on this site to provide the most accurate and authentic representation of their business. We are currently focusing our efforts on promoting businesses within Massachusetts.
We also recognize that not every business has the want or means to establish an independent online presence. As such, we are currently working on capabilities for our 'mom & pops' to post their products and services directly on our site for your convenience. Lots of exciting changes in the works with more to come!
They say it takes a village... and we 100% agree.
Help us achieve our mission to uplift and support the backbones of our
communities for the next generation.