What is around
A free platform for booking local services from independent creators.
We help them get seen, reach nearby customers and grow in their community.
- Free to joinNo fees to create a creator page
- Browse your wayBy creator or by service
- Creator portalRun your page, services and bookings
- Everything up frontWork, prices, reviews and contact
- Save for laterKeep a list of creators you love
- Pay in the appHeld safely until the booking happens
- Ask Around AIDescribe what you need, get matches
- Book and manageSchedule, message and reschedule
Our mission
Preserve human creativity
More and more of what was once only human is now done faster, and sometimes better, by AI. It leaves many of us wondering what our purpose will be. We believe the answer is each other. Around exists so people can keep doing what they love, find meaning in it and earn a real living, from traditional creative services to new, fun ones you've never heard of. We're building a new economy for human creativity, starting in New York City.
Our story
Before founding Around, our CEO Bryan Herrera spent years in the AI industry, helping build technology meant to replace humans.
From within, he witnessed massive layoffs at companies adopting AI, many of which had used their own employees' work to train the very models designed to replace them. As he saw more of this trend, it became clear to Bryan that the end goal was to replace human labor with AI. That is why Bryan has made it his mission to build a future for human labor with Around.
How it works
Find a creator
Search by what you need, or ask Around for ideas. Every creator has a page with their work, prices and reviews.
Book and pay in the app
Pick a time that works. Your payment is held safely and the creator is only paid once the booking happens.
Meet and enjoy
Message your creator, meet up, and leave a review afterwards to help the next person.
Starting in New York City
We are building Around one neighborhood at a time, starting with New York's creators. Once it works here, we are bringing it to more cities.
500+
Local creators
Across New York City
100+
Kinds of services
Traditional to one-of-a-kind
$0
To join as a creator
No monthly fees
For creators
Become a creator on Around
Create an account, open Settings and choose Become a Creator. Tell us about your work, and our team will review your application.
For customers
Find a creator near you
Ask Around for recommendations for your event, or browse local creators across your city and book in a few taps.
Get in touch
Questions, press or partnerships: a person reads every message.