Q2030 in action: Loyal to Quad Cities, TapOnIt is here to stay

Here is an inspiring story that shows how one business in the Quad Cities region exemplifies the vision of Q2030.

The vision of Q2030 is built around growing talent, jobs, investments and economic opportunity for all Quad Citizens. Success in one of these areas leads to a win in another, moving the entire Quad Cities region forward.

It takes a collective effort of Quad Citizens to make this vision a reality: individuals who embrace the region as a great place to live and work; and businesses that invest in the Quad Cities by locating or expanding here and developing the talent pool.

TapOnIt, a growing tech firm that uses text message marketing to promote businesses in the Quad Cities and 40 total communities across 18 states, is one of many area companies taking the Q2030 vision to heart. Founded by sisters Katie Castillo-Wilson and Sara Castillo and headquartered in the Village of East Davenport, TapOnIt currently employs 22 people. And since its start in 2015, the company has raised about $5 million in venture capital funding, a sizable sum of which has come from Quad Cities investors.

“We are proud and excited to be building our company in the Quad Cities,” Castillo-Wilson said. “I often hear people question us being a female-founded tech company in Iowa, but if 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that smart people can do big things from anywhere, so we are staying here.”

Aligned with the Q2030 goal to build a rich and vibrant community, TapOnIt is committed to helping people discover and experience the best amenities and services area businesses have to offer.

“Local breweries, restaurants and shops are what make a community unique, and if we don't support those businesses, they are going to disappear, and every city will start to look the same,” Castillo-Wilson said.

This passion for supporting local businesses inspired the TapOnIt team to help during a critical time this spring. They provided almost $1 million in free advertising to businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic across the country, including over 50 businesses in the Quad Cities. TapOnIt also developed an online platform for businesses to sell gift cards, giving small business-to-consumer entities another source of revenue.

Additionally, as businesses called for personal protective equipment (PPE) for their employees, TapOnIt created an online marketplace to sell PPE at an affordable rate, Castillo-Wilson said. So far, they have sold and delivered more than 100,000 pieces of PPE.

“Selling masks is certainly not something I thought my tech company would ever do, but when things get tough you have to work to generate new ways to keep the lights on,” Castillo-Wilson added. “Selling PPE helped us do that, and we were able to get great rates and pass the savings on to the community.”

Compared to a global pandemic, these actions may seem small. However, for a community in crisis, these are mighty reminders everyone is in this together. TapOnIt, named Quad Cities Chamber Business of the Year in 2018, understands how big of a role small businesses play in maintaining a strong and unique community. And supporting these businesses and their employees helps move the region closer to realizing the Q2030 vision of creating a cool place to live, work and play.