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§ Private Profile · San Francisco, CA, USA
Sell to people nearby.
Key people at Fobo.
Fobo was founded in 2011 by Ryan Mickle (Founder) and Ed McManus (Founder/CTO).
FOBO is a local marketplace for selling consumer electronics.
FOBO offers users a new way to sell goods via mobile app. It gets rid of all the hassle that is usually associated with local marketplaces and makes it ultra-simple and ultra-fast to do so. The app guarantees sellers will get a certain price for their devices and will be paid upfront, and ensures that their product is sold fast : within 97 minutes.
Key people at Fobo.
Fobo was founded in 2011 by Ryan Mickle (Founder) and Ed McManus (Founder/CTO).
FOBO is a mobile marketplace platform launched in January 2014 that enables users to quickly sell used consumer electronics to people nearby through local auctions. It aims to simplify and speed up the selling process by guaranteeing items will sell, targeting convenience for sellers in localized markets, initially focusing on the San Francisco Bay Area. The product serves individual sellers who want a hassle-free way to sell electronics without the typical delays and uncertainties of traditional classifieds or online auctions. FOBO demonstrated rapid growth early on, reaching a $1 million run rate within a few months of launch, supported by seed funding from prominent investors including Greylock Partners and Index Ventures[1].
FOBO was founded by Ed McManus and Ryan Mickle, who previously developed Yardsale, an app designed to facilitate selling goods on Craigslist, and participated in Y Combinator’s Summer 2011 batch. In 2013, they pivoted from Yardsale to FOBO under the same company, focusing exclusively on used electronics and local auctions. The idea emerged from the founders’ experience with peer-to-peer selling and the desire to eliminate the friction in selling electronics quickly and locally. The company raised $1.6 million in seed funding in October 2013, with notable backers such as Tim Ferriss and Kevin Rose. Early traction was strong, with FOBO quickly gaining users and hitting significant revenue milestones shortly after launch[1].
FOBO rides the trend of localized peer-to-peer marketplaces and the growing consumer demand for quick, convenient ways to transact used goods, especially electronics. The timing was favorable given the increasing volume of used electronics and the inefficiencies in existing selling channels like Craigslist or eBay. FOBO’s model leverages mobile technology and local networks to reduce transaction friction, aligning with broader shifts toward hyperlocal commerce and mobile-first user experiences. Its success highlights the potential for niche marketplaces that combine speed, simplicity, and locality to disrupt traditional classified and auction markets[1].
FOBO’s early momentum and strong investor backing position it well to expand beyond its initial geographic focus and potentially broaden its product categories. Future growth will likely depend on scaling its local auction model to new cities and enhancing the app’s features to improve user engagement and trust. As consumer electronics continue to cycle rapidly, demand for efficient resale platforms will grow, and FOBO’s guaranteed-sale approach could become a key differentiator. Additionally, evolving market trends toward sustainability and circular economies may further boost the appeal of platforms like FOBO that facilitate reuse and resale of electronics.
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*Note:* The term "FOBO" also refers to "Fear of Becoming Obsolete," a concept related to workforce anxieties around AI and automation, but this is unrelated to the FOBO marketplace app described above[2][3][4][5].
