SoBo: Something Borrowed

SoBo is the easiest way to lend and borrow physical items with the people around you. Friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, or even strangers in your community.

Instead of buying something you'll only use once or twice, borrow it from someone nearby. Instead of letting your stuff sit in the garage collecting dust, put it to work.

THE PROBLEM WITH INFORMAL LENDING

You already lend things to people you know. A camping tent, a power drill, a board game. But there's no record. You forget who has what, when it's coming back, or what you agreed on. It works until it doesn't, and then it gets awkward.

SOBO FIXES THAT

Every loan creates a permanent record. Terms agreed to, handoff confirmed, reminders sent, item returned, reviews exchanged. Every step is tracked. No one has to remember what was said or when. The history speaks for itself.

HOW IT WORKS

For Lenders:
- Add items to your library with photos, descriptions, and a replacement value
- When someone requests to borrow, set your terms: return date, optional fee, and any conditions
- Confirm the handoff and the loan begins
- SoBo sends automatic return reminders so you never have to nag
- Mark the item returned and leave a review

For Borrowers:
- Browse items nearby in the Discover tab
- Request to borrow with a tap
- Review and accept the lender's terms
- Get reminders as the return date approaches
- Return the item and leave a review

KEY FEATURES

- Permanent loan ledger: every step of every loan is recorded and can't be changed
- Automatic return reminders at 3 days, 1 day, day of, and escalating if overdue
- In-app chat for every loan with text and photo messages
- Reviews and ratings that build trust over time
- Search and filter by category, condition, distance, and more
- ZIP-based location, no GPS tracking

SIMPLE, FAIR PRICING

Every lender gets one free active loan slot, forever. Need to lend more than one item at a time? Each additional concurrent loan is just $1. Borrowing is always free.

YOUR PRIVACY MATTERS

SoBo uses ZIP codes for proximity, not GPS. Your email is never shared with other users. No data is sold. Ever.