Around 2012, @mjwhansen & @MathiasHansen launched a mobile app called "Open Nearby," showing you what stores were open now.

The map in the app required geocoding. Google Maps was too expensive, so they built @Geocodio to serve their own needs.

https://searchingforsaas.com/podcast/ep25-local-restaurant-app-to-geocoding-as-a-service-michele-hansen-from-geocodio/