As Australian small businesses seek more accountable and conversion-oriented  marketing strategies, a Melbourne-based startup is emerging as a smart alternative to  traditional agencies. Couponer, co-founded by marketing veterans Dr. Jing Zhou and  Songyi Huang, is reshaping how local businesses approach growth in the digital age.  

Unlike conventional marketing firms that focus on exposure alone, Couponer is built on a  conversion-first mindset. Couponer is the app to discover and enjoy Australia’s hidden  gems 24/7. The platform integrates influencer outreach, real-time coupons, bundled  offers, and in-app bookings—creating a seamless path from digital discovery to in-store  experience. 

“We realized that exposure alone wasn’t the problem—small businesses were spending on marketing, but couldn’t measure ROI or bring customers in the door,” said Huang, who completed her Master’s in Marketing at Monash University. Co-founder Dr. Jing Zhou, a marketing lecturer with over a decade of academic experience, added that the platform  was designed from the ground up to meet these pain points. 

Launched in Melbourne, Couponer has already partnered with hundreds of F&B,  entertainment, and tourism operators across Melbourne and Sydney. Its user base,  particularly among young, digitally savvy Asian-Australian consumers, continues to grow  rapidly—supported by content partnerships on platforms like Rednote and Instagram. 

What sets Couponer apart is its hybrid approach: a lightweight tech platform with deep  focus on real-world conversion, supported by community engagement and performance  analytics. The company is also exploring AI-driven personalization to further enhance  value for both users and merchants. 

In a market where O2O infrastructure is still developing, Couponer may well become a  defining player—one that offers small businesses not just visibility, but results they can  track, scale, and optimize.