Start Up #348: NOLA SMS Pro - SMS Automation with GoHighLevel CRM & Workflows

Norwin Lacson is Founder at NOLA SMS Pro. NOLA SMS Pro helps Philippine businesses and GoHighLevel agencies reach customers through automated SMS without relying on expensive international SMS providers. It lets you send SMS directly from GoHighLevel workflows and the Conversations inbox, so you can automatically trigger appointment reminders, follow-ups, order and pickup notifications, customer updates, and promotional messages based on CRM events. Messages are routed through local Philippine SMS infrastructure, helping reduce SMS costs to as low as ₱1 per 160-character segment compared with significantly higher international rates. Businesses can also use an approved branded Sender ID so customers see the business name instead of an unfamiliar phone number. With no Twilio account, custom API development, or separate SMS platform required, NOLA SMS Pro gives agencies, SaaS builders, clinics, service businesses, and local companies a simpler way to automate SMS communication with Philippine mobile customers. In this episode: 00:00 Introduction 00:54 NOLA SMS Pro 03:51 Problem being solved 10:19 Product/service 24:35 Stories behind the startup 33:38 Vision 40:02 Motivation 41:47 Milestone 42:57 Challenges 44:38 Advice 46:18 Contact & information NOLA SMS PRO Website: https://nolasmspro.com Website: https://nolacrm.io Facebook: https://facebook.com/nolacrm2025 THIS EPISODE IS CO-PRODUCED BY: Symph: ⁠⁠https://symph.co⁠⁠ OneCFO: ⁠⁠https://onecfoph.co⁠⁠ Yspaces: ⁠⁠https://knowyourspaceph.com⁠⁠ (5% discount on virtual office, meeting rooms, and event space! Code: YSPACESSUP) Vition Consulting and Workshops: ⁠⁠https://ksfinancialsph.com⁠⁠ Twala: ⁠⁠https://twala.io⁠⁠ GigGenius: ⁠⁠https://gig-genius.io⁠⁠ SkoolTek by Edfolio: ⁠⁠https://skooltek.co⁠⁠ Red Circle Global: ⁠⁠https://redcircleglobal.com⁠⁠ CHECK OUT OUR PARTNERS: Enactus Philippines: ⁠⁠https://enactus.ph⁠⁠ SoftPhil AI: ⁠⁠https://softphil.com⁠⁠ Multibook Philippines: ⁠⁠https://multibook.com.ph⁠⁠ Ask Lex PH Academy: ⁠⁠https://asklexph.com⁠⁠ (5% discount on e-learning courses! Code: ALPHAXSUP) Pahatid PH: ⁠⁠https://pahatid.ph⁠⁠ Digital Workforce Group: ⁠⁠https://digitalworkforce.com⁠⁠ Nascent Batteries: ⁠⁠https://nascentbatteries.com⁠⁠ Level Up Talent Solutions: ⁠⁠https://lvluptalentsolutions.com⁠⁠ Agile Data Solutions (Hustle PH): ⁠⁠https://agiledatasolutions.tech⁠⁠ CloudCFO: ⁠⁠https://cloudcfo.ph⁠⁠ (Free financial assessment, process onboarding, and 6-month QuickBooks subscription! Mention: Start Up Podcast PH) ArkoTech: ⁠⁠https://arkotechspacesolutions.com⁠⁠ DVCode Technologies Inc: ⁠⁠https://dvcode.tech⁠⁠ Argum AI: ⁠⁠http://argum.ai⁠⁠ PIXEL by Eplayment: ⁠⁠https://pixel.eplayment.co/auth/sign-up?r=PIXELXSUP1⁠⁠ (Sign up using Code: PIXELXSUP1) School of Profits: ⁠⁠https://schoolofprofits.academy⁠⁠ Hier Business Solutions: ⁠⁠https://hierpayroll.com⁠⁠ START UP PODCAST PH YouTube: ⁠⁠https://youtube.com/startuppodcastph⁠⁠ Spotify: ⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6BObuPvMfoZzdlJeb1XXVa⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/start-up-podcast/id1576462394⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠https://facebook.com/startuppodcastph⁠⁠ PIXEL: ⁠⁠https://pixel.eplayment.co/dl/startuppodcastph⁠⁠ Website: ⁠⁠https://startupnetwork.ph⁠⁠ This episode is edited by the team at: ⁠⁠https://tasharivera.com⁠