Some products get built because someone saw a market opportunity. ToolBud got built because I saw two opportunities to be a better member of my own community — and realized they were connected.
The first one was practical. I kept buying tools I'd use once or twice, knowing full well that someone nearby probably already owned what I needed. The bathtub drain extractor I bought for one job — a $40 tool I've touched exactly once. Wasteful — because it was.
The second was harder to admit. I didn't really know my neighbors. Knocking on someone's door to borrow something takes a boldness most of us don't have anymore — not because we're unfriendly, but because we've never had a reason to bridge that gap.
ToolBud is that reason.
That's what we're building. ToolBud is a community-first way to borrow what you need, lend what you have, and find used tools nearby when buying makes more sense.
Lend when you can. Borrow only what you need. Return it better than you found it.
That's ToolBud. — Shawn Smith, Founder & CEO