Meet Shrop. As a longtime creative, software developer, and strategist, Mark “Shrop” Shropshire has been building digital solutions since the early days of the internet. Now, alongside creative partner Bayo Fodeke, he co-leads FocalGroove, a growing business rooted in strategic creativity and community problem-solving.
a journey into entrepreneurship
For Shrop and Bayo, collaboration has always been central to their work. They met in the open-source tech community and co-founded several ventures over the years, including a food truck logistics startup and various community meetups. Their experience encompasses software and web development, photography, videography, social media, branding, and business strategy, all of which they integrate into their work with FocalGroove.
Their journey into entrepreneurship found an anchor in the Rowan-Cabarrus Small Business Center, specifically in one-on-one business counseling with Meg, the center’s director. They received early-stage guidance and continuous support to help them navigate new ideas and grow with confidence.
“We had an idea for a food truck logistics platform and talked with Meg about it,” said Shrop. “She connected us with the 53 Ideas competition, and we ended up in the top 10 pitching finalists. That experience alone taught us so much.”
Later, after rekindling a shared love for photography, the duo found themselves at a conference in Asheville, reflecting on the direction of their creative pursuits. They decided to launch a new venture together, one that would allow them to combine their creative, technology, and strategic talents under a single business.
“We were already helping people separately,” Shrop said. “But we know that we have a superpower when we work together.”
They kept the Small Business Center team informed as their idea evolved. With guidance from Meg and others, they officially formed FocalGroove in October 2024. Since then, the business has grown organically through strategic partnerships, word of mouth, and a clear focus on delivering value to its clients.
FocalGroove offers more than just creative services, including photography, website, and social media creation. They describe themselves as a group of problem solvers who work alongside clients to clarify goals, identify challenges, and execute thoughtful and creative solutions. Their combined 40 years of experience in business and technology give them a unique lens for helping other entrepreneurs scale with purpose.
“Our joy is in the whiteboard,” Shrop said. “We love sitting with small business owners, hearing where they are stuck and figuring out how to help them grow. If we can’t do something, we bring in partners who can.”
They’ve worked with businesses like local favorite Villani’s Bakery, helping them completely shift their social content strategy. They are also preparing to launch a podcast studio at Flywheel Concord, where they are longtime coworking advocates and community leaders.
“We are not an agency,” Shrop said. “We are a group of people helping others solve business problems in creative and meaningful ways.”
The Rowan-Cabarrus Small Business Center has played a continuous role in that journey. Shrop and Bayo have both attended SBC training sessions and also presented on web and marketing topics. Their ongoing conversations with Meg have helped shape new service offerings, including a simplified web design option that enables small businesses to get online quickly and affordably.
“One day, Meg said to me, ‘There are so many small businesses that need help with the web.’ I went home, thought about it, and realized this was an opportunity to bring our enterprise-level skills to help local businesses in a real, accessible way.”
That kind of insight, according to Shrop, is why he tells people to connect with the Small Business Center all the time.
“I say this multiple times a week. Talk to the team. Plug into what they’re doing. You’ll save yourself heartache just from the consultation and advice. For us, those conversations led to the right connections and resources, and that made all the difference.”
To learn more about FocalGroove, visit focalgroove.com or follow them on social media at @focalgroove.
