Published Sep 3, 2019

E970 Revel's Lisa Marrone builds communities for women 50+, shares inspiration, pricing, virality

Lisa Marrone, CEO of Revel, shares how the company combats loneliness among women over 50 through community-building and innovative event strategies, highlighting their successful subscription model and insights into viral growth and entrepreneurship for societal change.
Episode Highlights
This Week in Startups logo

Popular Clips

Episode Highlights

  • Viral Growth

    Revel's growth strategy leverages the power of virality, with each member referring an average of one friend and bringing another to events. This organic growth model allows Revel to expand its membership without significant marketing expenses, tapping into the under-targeted demographic of women over 50 on platforms like Facebook 1. highlights the importance of understanding customer behavior to refine their business model, ensuring that the platform continues to resonate with its audience 2. She notes, "When a woman signs up as a member of Revel today, she refers, on average, one friend."

       

    Scaling Challenges

    Scaling a niche community-focused business like Revel presents unique challenges, particularly in maintaining the quality of connections as the platform grows. and Lisa discuss the importance of balancing online and offline interactions to foster genuine relationships 3. Lisa reflects on her inspiration for Revel, emphasizing the need for intergenerational connections and the potential for scaling through strategic partnerships. "How the heck does this scale because that's the thing you're going to get judged on now," Jason remarks, highlighting the pressure to maintain growth momentum.

       

    Event Spaces

    Innovative event spaces offer a unique opportunity for Revel to enhance community building and growth. introduces the concept of using underutilized spaces like storefronts for events, providing a cost-effective alternative to traditional venues 4. Lisa sees potential in these spaces, particularly for hosting events during off-peak hours, aligning with the availability of their demographic. She states, "There are so many beautiful underutilized spaces out there in the world," underscoring the potential for creative event planning.