Leivo: A lending library run by your neighbours
Borrow before you buy, and build trust through Karma
My Role
Concept, design & development
Status
Mobile app built with an API; preparing store release
Tools & Tech
Borrow. Share. Trust.
The Problem
Most households own things they use a few times a year, such as a drill, a tent or a ladder, while neighbours buy the same things. Lending between strangers fails on trust: people worry about items not coming back, and about sharing too much about where they live.
The Idea
Leivo is a lending library for a neighbourhood. You post items you are happy to lend, find things nearby with a radius slider, and send a request. A chat, a return flow and a reputation called Karma keep the loop accountable. Lenders can set a minimum Karma and a maximum borrow duration for each item, so each person controls how much trust they extend.
How It Works
- STEP 1
Find nearby
Browse items on a map and list within a radius you choose.
- STEP 2
Request
Ask to borrow an item. The owner sees the request in their inbox and can chat.
- STEP 3
Borrow and return
A guided return step closes the loop for both sides.
- STEP 4
Earn Karma
A successful lend and an on-time return both earn Karma, which unlocks access to higher-trust items.
Design Decisions
Trust you can tune
Per-item minimum Karma and maximum duration move trust decisions to the lender instead of a global rule.
Coarse location only
Users type a postcode or address, and items are stored only as an approximately 300 m cell. No device GPS is collected.
Proof of neighbourhood, once
A one-time IBAN check confirms a real person who lives locally, to protect everyone they borrow from.
Safety built in
Report and block on items and chats, plus in-app account deletion. No analytics, ads or tracking SDKs.
Where It Stands
- Full borrow, chat, return and Karma flows implemented
- Privacy manifest, data-safety answers and compliance notes prepared for both stores