Company Profile (AI Text)
Name: Vinder
Canonical URL: https://wefunder.com/vinder
Updated at: 2026-06-07T05:01:54Z

Tagline: Neighbors Feeding Neighbors
Elevator pitch: As an online farmers market for home gardeners, we help people easily buy and sell homegrown produce with their neighbors. This not only incentivizes home gardeners to grow fresh, amazing fruits and vegetables but opens up communities to more personal connections. We keep those relationships personal by allowing those connections to form organically, taking only a 20% transaction fee on the buyer side. So far, this has resulted in a 90% retention rate for growers and 77% for buyers.

Key claims:
- Total raised on Wefunder: 156224 | citation: https://wefunder.com/vinder#claim-total-raised
- Total investors: 357 | citation: https://wefunder.com/vinder#claim-total-investors

Verified facts:
- Total raised on Wefunder: 156224 | observed_at: 2026-06-07T05:01:54Z | expires_at: 2026-06-08T05:01:54Z
- Total investors: 357 | observed_at: 2026-06-07T05:01:54Z | expires_at: 2026-06-08T05:01:54Z

Computed metrics:
- total_amount_raised: 156224
- total_investors: 357
- team_size: 5
- featured_investor_count: 0
- faq_count: 5
- recent_post_count: 0

Quick facts:
- Online beta marketplace organically grew to over 90 cities in 19 states in 4 months. | citation: https://wefunder.com/vinder#claim-fact-1
- Winners of the 2017 Silicon Valley Business Plan competition. | citation: https://wefunder.com/vinder#claim-fact-2
- Average order size is $15.88. | citation: https://wefunder.com/vinder#claim-fact-3
- Our mobile app, which goes live on Android + iOS on August 21, has 700+ pre-registered users. | citation: https://wefunder.com/vinder#claim-fact-4
- Retention rate for growers is 90% and 77% for buyers. | citation: https://wefunder.com/vinder#claim-fact-5
- CEO Sam Lillie was named the Young Entrepreneur of the Year by Jefferson County, Washington in April 2018. | citation: https://wefunder.com/vinder#claim-fact-6
- Graduate of the MassChallenge Business Accelerator. | citation: https://wefunder.com/vinder#claim-fact-7
- Sam started by knocking on his neighbor's doors, and in the first 3 months of business, hand-delivered over 300 lbs of produce on his bicycle. | citation: https://wefunder.com/vinder#claim-fact-8

FAQ:
- Q: Hi. I think you are building something amazing! Is there an online beta marketplace or you are currently not operating and waiting for the app?
  A: Hi Mark! Thanks for reaching out and liking Vinder! We shut down the online beta to build and focus on the app based on what we learned. We have a BETA version of our app available for Android if you'd like to check it out. You can email me: sam@veggievinder.com or give me a call at: 1 (682) 235-8745
- Q: I like your platform idea. You are going to have an uphill battle getting suppliers who are older and not tech savvy onto the platform. It sounds like this may already be your problem. You may have to do some sort of ambassador program to help get people onto the platform. Per...
  A: Hi David, Thanks for such detailed questions. Below are the answers listed by question order. If you'd like, we can talk over the phone or video chat. My email is: sam@veggievinder.com Phone: (682) 235-8745. 1) We do have an "ambassador" program, although, we like to call them Agtivists :) You can register to be one here: https://www.veggievinder.com/agtivist-volunteer We also offer a number of ways someone can help promote and kick-start their community with this handy "10 Ways to Get Starte...
- Q: How do the buyers get the produce they have purchased?
  A: Hi Mary! Thanks for reaching out. Customers can pick up the order themselves, meet the Grower, tour the garden, or, have the order delivered to them by the Grower for a delivery fee that is set by the Grower. Typically $5.
- Q: I love what you are doing, but wouldn’t most cost-conscious buyers just connect directly with the grower after the first meeting and bypass Vinder’s 20%?
  A: Hi Mary! Great question. Convenience, variety, and ease-of-use keep Buyers from side stepping the platform. Having started Vinder on Bicycle, I know how many pains there are to trying to do it "offline". For one, not all Growers grow everything a single customer may want. So, the customer will have to manage and build relationships with multiple Growers. This would mean calling/texting to find out what is available (we built an inter-app messaging service so phone numbers are not shown to use...
- Q: I love the concept but how do u insure the customers get quality produce? If there is no oversight what is to stop a grower from sending spoiled or old produce?
  A: Hi Alan! Thanks for reaching out. We've implemented a 5 star rating system and public comments feature. This way, Buyers/Growers can rate each other and inform the public of their experiences-- creating a community checks and balance. When users get low ratings, their listings are moved further towards the bottom before getting banned. We also found that typically, neighbors don't want to screw over their neighbors.