Balanceè app
Fix it with Balanceè
Hi hackers,
I’m building Balanceè, a service marketplace that helps Nigerians find trusted mechanics, book repairs, and track their vehicle maintenance, all from a mobile app.
We launched because car repairs in Nigeria can be a gamble:
– No ID, no structure, just vibes.
– Many users fear losing parts or overpaying.
– There's little transparency or trust.
With Balanceè, users can:
– Book verified mechanics near them
– Track repair history
– Access fair pricing and discounts
– Get 24/7 support
We’ve onboarded 100+ mechanics so far, mostly in Lagos, and growing weekly.
We’re also working on educating car owners with bite-sized auto care content on socials (X, IG, TikTok).
Our traction so far:
– 2,000+ users across beta and soft launch
– Referral-based user growth from creators and marketers
– Partnerships with car repair hubs and mechanic clusters
Right now, we’re looking to:
– Talk to other indie hackers in marketplaces or service apps
– Learn how you scaled supply + demand in tough markets
– Connect with mobile-first user acquisition specialists
Would love to connect with other builders solving problems in fragmented, high-friction industries.
Let’s talk product, retention, and grit.
Sisanmi
@balancee_ng
www.balancee.app
Hey Indie Hackers 👋
We’re building Balanceè, a mobile app that helps people in Nigeria book verified mechanics, track repairs, and report disputes if anything goes wrong.
Why we built it:
Too many Nigerians (ourselves included) have been burned by mechanics
No receipts
No tracking
No accountability
You pay today, something else breaks tomorrow. And good luck finding that mechanic again.
We wanted to fix that.
What Balanceè does:
Lets users book verified, traceable mechanics
Shows ratings and references
Sends SMS/email proof of every booking
Allows users to report issues directly in the app
Expands trust across Nigeria's unregulated auto repair space
Our numbers so far:
Over 1,100 new users onboarded in June
1,600+ completed bookings
Expanded to new stations in Lagos
Just started testing U.S. growth strategies
What we’re trying to figure out:
How to scale this model to new cities fast
The best way to enter diaspora markets (U.S./UK)
How to turn our mechanic-side tools into a full B2B offering
We'd love feedback from the community:
What’s the best way you’ve gotten traction in two-sided marketplaces?
Have any of you launched region-specific apps like this? What did you learn?
Would you use a system like this if it existed in your city?
Let’s talk.
We're live on balancee.app and on Product Hunt.
The Balanceè Team
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1
Hey Balanceè,
What you’re building deserves a standing ovation. Just last week, I watched another mechanic scam my mom, and I told myself that I’d register as an apprentice six months before I get my first car. That’s by the way.
I saw that you’re trying to figure out how to balance the two sides of your marketplace — mechanics and drivers. I wanted to share a few thoughts based on what I’ve seen work here in Nigeria.
I’d suggest starting with one area first, instead of trying to grow across all of Lagos or Nigeria. Take Bolt, for example. Bolt isn’t in every city yet, but they take over every city they enter. They target an area, build the trust, demand and results in one place until people in the next place start begging for it.
Pick a zone. Get trusted mechanics there. Bring in drivers there. As soon as the results start speaking, there’ll be agitations for your presence in another area. Take advantage of it and open a waitlist. Something like, “After 50 signups, we’re coming to your area.” It creates anticipation and makes your presence feel earned, not imposed.
Also, when OPay started, they used real people and real-life rewards. Students earned ₦500 for bringing others on board. I mean, Nigerians will always trust someone they know over words from a billboard.
Balanceè can take that idea and do it even better. Instead of ₦500, maybe partner with local petrol stations. Offer a liter of fuel for every mechanic or driver referral. Maybe 1.5 liters when the app is actually used. Or a 20% commission if the referee ends up paying a mechanic to fix something. It creates buzz, word of mouth, and those kinds of daily conversations you’ll overhear at fuel stations, garages, car washes — all the places your users already live and move.
I also think it’s important to reward both sides. Reward mechanics for bringing their loyal customers. Reward drivers for referring mechanics. That’s how you build both ends of the trust chain. And make the app easy to use.
Group the mechanics by category — Rewire, Vulcanizer, Panel Beater, Spray Painter, Spare Parts Agent. Let people find what they need, and let those roadside guys finally have a way to feed their families with dignity. Let them build credibility with each completed job. Before long, everyone will want to be a Balanceè mechanic. They’ll chase the stars, the ratings and of course, the pride.
I’m a copywriter and funnel strategist who works with early-stage startups. If you ever want someone to look through your onboarding or help boost loyalty from the mechanic side, I’d love to support. You can reach me at copywritinah@gmail .com
3 Comments
Congratulations on your initial traction. Love seeing Africa focused products on here. Curious on the following:
- Which has been the bigger issue so far, onboarding the mechanics or car owners?
- What value prop are you leading with when approaching mechanics?
Love this. Fragmented service markets are some of the toughest but most impactful problems to solve, and the need for trust and structure in auto repairs is universal.
Your traction so far is impressive, especially in a market where both supply and demand have friction. Would be curious to hear how you’re balancing incentives for mechanics while keeping pricing fair for users. Also interested in how you’re handling trust verification—do you do in-person vetting, user reviews, or a mix?
Following along, and wishing you the best with this.
Hello , I am growth marketer in Lagos .. would love to contact.