That home project you’ve been putting off might finally have a starting point. Three Jacksonville founders are making it easier for homeowners and contractors to find each other.
You know, the one that’s been sitting on your to-do list? Maybe it’s a leaky roof, a fence that needs replacing, a tree that’s gotten a little too close to the house, or a kitchen you've been dreaming about renovating.
You’ve probably already imagined how nice it will look when it’s finished. You might even have a few inspiration photos saved somewhere. But actually getting started? That’s another story.
First, you need to find a contractor. Then another, because everyone recommends getting at least three estimates. Before you know it, you’re juggling phone calls, schedules and conversations about the same project with different people, all before a single piece of work has begun.
And somehow, another month goes by.
Three Jacksonville founders think there’s a better way to get past that first hurdle. Their startup, biid, is built around a simple idea: instead of homeowners spending their time searching for contractors, what if interested contractors could come to them?
A Different Way to Get the First Bids
With biid, homeowners can post a renovation, repair or home improvement project, including photos and details about the work they need done. Contractors on the platform can then submit bids or request a site visit, giving homeowners the opportunity to compare their options side by side and choose the professional they want to hire.
And for homeowners, the platform is free to use.
The idea came from people who knew both sides of the problem. Chad DeBerry and Daniel Simms had spent years working with rental properties and mobile home parks, managing repairs and hiring contractors. They understood how frustrating the search could be, but they also knew talented tradespeople who struggled to find consistent jobs while running their businesses.
Together with their friend Gabe Scott, who brought app development experience, they began building something that could make those two worlds meet more easily.
Their first concept was wonderfully simple: take a photo of something that needs fixing, post it and get a bid. But they quickly discovered that contractors need more information than a picture can provide.
As the team explained:
“There’s a really thin line to walk between being frictionless for homeowners while getting enough information for contractors.”
Finding that balance has been one of their biggest challenges, alongside the familiar startup reality of wearing too many hats, from product development and marketing to partnerships, customer support and growing the business.
Building the Marketplace, One Side at a Time
There’s another challenge that comes with building a platform like biid: homeowners need contractors ready to respond, while contractors need actual projects worth responding to.
The founders decided to start with the contractor network, bringing more than 200 contractors onto the platform before the first homeowner project was posted. Less than three weeks after launch, that number had grown to more than 250.
200+ contractors on the platform before the first homeowner project was posted.
250+ contractors less than three weeks after launch.
They’ve had some valuable Jacksonville connections along the way, too. Jake Eagerton of Eagerton Tree Service has been an important partner, helping the team build the contractor side of the platform. The founders also partnered with Noah McWilliams, who leads a contractor investor group and is active in Jacksonville’s real estate community.
It’s a reminder that startups aren’t built in isolation, and our local business community can make a real difference. Sometimes that support comes through introductions, shared experience or simply helping a new business connect with the right people.
Now, with the platform live on the App Store and an Android version planned, the team is focused on bringing more homeowners into the mix.
biid currently serves Duval, St. Johns, Clay, Nassau and Baker counties, giving homeowners across Northeast Florida an opportunity to try a different way of finding contractors.
Their goal is ambitious but easy to understand:
Every homeowner who posts a project receives at least 3 quality bids within 24hrs.
It’s a target they’re working toward, not a guarantee they’re making today. The founders want to prove that they can consistently deliver that experience in Jacksonville before expanding into other markets. And once they’ve established that foundation, they may explore fundraising to support the next stage of growth.
Maybe It’s Time to Revisit That To-Do List
For now, biid’s biggest opportunity is right here in Northeast Florida, where the team is looking for more homeowners willing to give the platform a try.
If you’re planning a renovation, replacing a fence or finally tackling a repair that’s been on your list for months, posting your project could help you discover contractors interested in the work without having to start the search from scratch.
And if you’re a contractor looking for new opportunities, biid is continuing to grow its network of professionals.
For a young startup, having the right people on both sides of the platform makes all the difference. Every new project gives the founders a better understanding of what homeowners need and helps them improve the experience they’re building.
As for that renovation you’ve been thinking about since last year, perhaps it’s time to pull out those inspiration photos and see who’s interested in helping you get started.
Find biid
biid is a Jacksonville startup connecting homeowners with contractors interested in bidding on renovation, repair and home improvement projects.
Founders: Chad DeBerry, Daniel Simms and Gabe Scott
Serving: Duval, St. Johns, Clay, Nassau and Baker counties,
Northeast Florida
Available: iOS App Store, with Android planned
Website:
biid.app
Email:
chad@biid.app
Phone:
904-982-1880
Facebook: biid | Instagram: @biid.app
How you can help biid grow: The team would love to see more Northeast Florida homeowners give biid a try for their next renovation or repair project, and welcome contractors looking to connect with new customers.
Startup Community Spotlight
Startup Community Spotlight is a JAX Business Calendar storytelling series created to help more people discover the founders, ideas and young companies being built in our community.
We love seeing ideas like biid take shape right here in Jacksonville, and we know how much the right connections can mean to a young business. If you have a home project in mind, know a contractor looking for opportunities or have someone in your network who could benefit from this platform, take a moment to make that introduction.
Sometimes the simplest way to support a local startup is to give its idea a chance.
