Poole College alumni Thomas Armstrong and Parker Mayes \u2014 who both earned degrees in business administration<\/a> \u2014 established the startup, a subscription-based service that arranges dates for members by pairing them with a human concierge who sets up outings tailored to their preferences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The rapidly growing business has tapped a market of busy professionals who want to be intentional about togetherness with their significant other, \u201cbut it\u2019s just not happening,\u201d says Armstrong, a 2020 graduate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The ultimate aim is to promote healthy, engaged relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both Mayes and Armstrong have been impacted by divorce or strained relationships among their families and friends. They wanted their business to focus on \u201chow we could use technology to make it easy for people to spend time with each other \u2026 and to do life together,\u201d Armstrong says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The startup began as a free service but became a membership model after the founders participated in NC State\u2019s Andrews Launch Accelerator<\/a>, a startup fast-track program for recent NC State graduates. The program is administered through the NC State Entrepreneurship Clinic<\/a> based in the Poole College of Management<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat was most helpful was the coaching and accountability from coaches who were invested in what we\u2019re doing,\u201d Armstrong says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Entrepreneurs further along with their businesses connected them to resources. \u201cThe mentors we met through the accelerator were phenomenal,\u201d Mayes, a 2022 graduate, says. \u201cAnd being around other entrepreneurs at similar stages and growing with them was really cool.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n More and more people think LetsGoRaleigh is really cool. About 100 members use the service now, and the startup has been featured in Raleigh-area media, including CBS 17 and Grepbeat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Their success doesn\u2019t surprise Haley Huie, director of the NC State Entrepreneurship Clinic and co-host of the Andrews Accelerator with Josh Guter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe things that have most impressed me about Thomas and Parker are their drive, coachability and willingness to tackle whatever is thrown their way. They are hardworking, but they’re also incredibly strategic,\u201d Huie says. \u201cThey’re top of mind for me when people ask me about what I love in working with aspiring founders at NC State.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n After Mayes and Armstrong took LetsGoRaleigh through several iterations and learned from their target market, they \u201carrived at an awesome solution for memorable date nights. They did it because they really zeroed in on customer discovery and figured out what would add value for couples,\u201d Huie says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What adds value for couples is in the details and customized plans LetsGoRaleigh provides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The concierge arranges tickets, reservations, parking and other particulars. A travel and family membership option can schedule kids\u2019 activities, day and weekend trips, flights and hotels. A recently launched business option offers plans for company workshops, team lunches and dinners, retreats and other events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Armstrong and Mayes aren\u2019t stopping at Raleigh. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Their goal? To expand into Charlotte in 2024 and, within several years, to operate in the 100 largest U.S. cities, including Chicago, New York and Seattle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Even when they achieve that aim, they\u2019re not through. \u201cWe want to scale a bunch of companies inside a portfolio of businesses,\u201d Mayes says. Their vision is to be multipreneurs by building early-stage businesses, within a type of incubator, that are sustainable for growth and then hiring people to take the enterprises to the next level.<\/p>\n\n\n![\"Mayes](\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/424\/2024\/03\/parker-thomas1-1024x576.jpg\")
![\"group](\"https:\/\/poole.ncsu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/424\/2024\/03\/parker-thomas2-1024x576.jpg\")