Sircles – The Social Recommendations App Designed to take out Yelp with John Worthington: An EOFire Classic from 2022

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Sep 14, 2025

John Worthington, Founder and CEO of Sircles App, shares insights on creating a social recommendations platform that challenges Yelp. He emphasizes the importance of community engagement and trust-building in digital spaces. The conversation explores gamification strategies that enhance user experience and retention. Worthington also highlights the significance of storytelling in attracting investors and how a flexible approach to productivity can lead to success. Listeners gain valuable tips on using crowdfunding effectively to support innovative startups.

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ADVICE

Work With Your Natural Clock

Do not force yourself to wake at dawn if your body and schedule don't need it.
Prioritize full rest to maintain a clear mind and better productivity.

ANECDOTE

Origin Story: Friends Wanted Trusted Recs

John and a college friend conceived Circles after asking why recommendations couldn't come from people you know.
They named the product 'Circles' and began building from that simple idea.

INSIGHT

Design For Positive Interactions

Removing reviews and focusing on favorites turns interactions strictly positive.
Broadcasting only what users love reduces negativity and discourages trolling.

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From the archive: This episode was originally recorded and published in 2022. Our interviews on Entrepreneurs On Fire are meant to be evergreen, and we do our best to confirm that all offers and URL's in these archive episodes are still relevant.

John Worthington is the founder and CEO of Sircles App, the social recommendations app designed to take out Yelp.

Top 3 Value Bombs

1. You do not have to force yourself to wake up early if you are not a morning person. You can have great success getting up when you feel like your clock is ready.

2. By gamification, you create progression.

3. Having a good product, telling your story the right way, and solving a problem for your consumers will give you a good chance of raising funds to get you started.

Caring is Sharing! Sircles provides a fun and intuitive way to find the entertainment and places your friends love - Sircles Website

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