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Key people at Baru.
Elyria, Ohio-based Baru is a manufacturing software company that connects customers with local independent woodworking shops to produce custom-sized furniture and cabinetry on demand. The company operates a decentralized direct-to-consumer platform that instantly translates custom product specifications into production orders for nearby facilities with underutilized robotics capacity. By routing orders to regional manufacturing partners in cities like Cleveland, Pueblo, and San Francisco, the system reduces shipping times and carbon emissions while delivering goods at up to 40 percent lower prices and two times faster than traditional methods. Operating with fewer than 25 employees and generating under $5 million in annual revenue, the early-stage startup has secured less than $5 million in total funding, including capital raised through an equity crowdfunding campaign on StartEngine. Baru was founded in 2019 by Tino Go and Anand Rau.
Key people at Baru.
Baru, Inc. is a gig platform and marketplace that connects underused manufacturing machines and robotics to produce custom cabinetry and personalized furniture through a network of local fabricators.[1][2][4] Operating like "Uber for production," it serves consumers and businesses seeking sustainable, on-demand manufacturing, solving supply chain waste by enabling short-distance production that cuts CO2 emissions and supports local jobs.[1][2] Founded in 2019 and based in Elyria, Ohio, Baru has raised $457,000 from angel investors and founders, with early operations in over 20 U.S. regions and a focus on kitchen/bathroom furnishings via B2B sales, SEO, and affiliates.[1][2][4]
Baru was founded in 2019 by Tino Go, who drew from insights into underutilized manufacturing robotics to create a distributed marketplace platform.[1][2] The idea emerged from recognizing downtime in advanced robotics, leading to patent-pending digital technology that converts customer-modified models (via online or AR tools) into production instructions for nearby shops.[2][4] Early traction includes angel funding of $267,000 plus $190,000 from founders, operations across 20+ U.S. regions, and sponsored content reaching 162,000 readers with $1.95M ad equivalency.[2] Note: Some sources list a 2014 founding, but primary profiles confirm 2019.[1][4]
Baru rides the sharing economy wave in manufacturing, applying gig platform dynamics to underutilized industrial assets amid rising sustainability demands and supply chain disruptions.[1][2] Timing aligns with e-commerce growth in personalized products and AR customization, while market forces like CO2 regulations and localism favor its model—potentially scaling globally as robotics adoption surges.[2] It influences the ecosystem by democratizing advanced manufacturing for small fabricators, fostering efficient supply chains, and addressing global warming through waste reduction in a $9B furniture segment.[1][2]
Baru is poised for scale by expanding B2B kitchen/bathroom sales and replicating its U.S. model worldwide, leveraging robotics proliferation and green mandates.[2] Trends like AI-driven manufacturing matching and AR design will accelerate growth, potentially boosting revenue as affiliate networks and SEO mature. Its influence may evolve from niche furniture to broader hard goods, solidifying as a key enabler of sustainable, localized production—echoing its Uber-for-machines promise amid efficiency-driven supply chains.[1][2]
