Spark Fiber
Co-founder & Marketing Lead
High-Speed Fiber Internet for Underserved Neighborhoods – Get Lit!
09/2015 - 03/2019
Spark Fiber was a hyper-local internet service provider startup on a mission to bring high-speed gigabit fiber internet to overlooked neighborhoods in Flint, Michigan, transforming them into thriving innovation hubs.
- Active Users:100+ homes connected (~15% of target market)
- Conversion Rate:Approximately 12% conversion from interested leads to paying customers
- Seo Ranking:Ranked top 3 in local search for 'fiber internet Flint' during campaign peak
- Social Growth:Increased local social media reach by 200% through grassroots campaigns
Branding:
Bold, grassroots, and aspirational, the tagline “Get Lit” captured not only the speed of fiber and its light-based technology but also the spirit of igniting Flint’s untapped potential.
Campaign Examples:
- Neighborhood cookouts to build awareness and trust.
- Game nights leveraging the high-speed network to showcase product value.
- Door-to-door flyering and local business partnerships.
- Achieved ~15% market penetration (~100 homes) in an underserved area.
- Developed cost-saving anchor house fiber deployment model.
- Led hyper-local marketing, including flyers, events, and social media.
- Directly contributed to startup strategy, growth, and infrastructure execution.
Spark Fiber improved digital access for Flint residents, created a local ISP alternative, empowered economic and educational growth, and laid the foundation for a tech-forward neighborhood culture.
Our strategy combined community-driven marketing, lean startup experimentation, and technical innovation. We focused on building relationships block by block, iterating growth hypotheses, and minimizing infrastructure costs through smart network design.
Background
Flint neighborhoods faced poor, unreliable internet service from monopolistic providers, limiting opportunities for local creatives, students, and businesses.
Execution
- Secured cost-effective fiber installation deals.
- Launched hyper-local marketing campaigns with direct outreach and community events.
- Tested growth hypotheses and refined value propositions through validated learning cycles.
Outcome
Expanded from a single home to 4–6 blocks, connecting 100+ homes, and establishing a repeatable, scalable model for future buildouts.
Large blue fiber spool on trailer used for laying fiber optic cable in Flint neighborhood.
Yellow Gehl lift vehicle being operated during fiber infrastructure installation.
Orange fiber conduit and small trenching equipment staged for deployment.
Team member on rooftop securing fiber cable for aerial installation.
Spark Fiber crew posing together beside a newly installed telephone pole in the neighborhood.
Robert Anderson explains how fiber internet boosts employee productivity, improves customer service, and creates a faster, more profitable work environment.
A discussion on how industries like coffee shops and media benefit from fiber internet, attracting customers with superior speeds and connectivity.
Interview exploring whether fiber internet makes employees happier, more productive, and better equipped to deliver exceptional customer value.
Joe Google, GM of 501 Bar and Grill, shares insights on how fiber internet offers competitive pricing advantages and lays the foundation for cloud-based operations.
An honest discussion on whether faster fiber internet improves workplace productivity and enhances customer experiences in industries like restaurants and hospitals.
Related Content
- Startup marketing strategy
- Community-based marketing
- Scrappy growth execution
Contact & Socials
Address: Flint, MI, USA