Tommy Sondgroth, who grew up in Hollister and maintains deep roots in the community, recently launched a smartphone application that aims to compete with the big-box behemoths of the gig economy while allowing service workers to keep more of the money they earn.<\/p>\n
The app, known as FAVR, offers transportation, delivery, dog walking, shopping, home services and other services. Sondgroth said he designed the app to compete directly with Uber, Grubhub, DoorDash and similar companies.<\/p>\n
FAVR, he said, has advantages over those industry stalwarts\u2014for both the customer and the provider\u2014that stem from \u201ccutting out the middleman.\u201d FAVR drivers, delivery people, dog walkers and other providers have more autonomy to set prices and interact with clients than gig workers on multinational platforms; and, as the app grows, customers will have increasing options at different prices, Sondgroth explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are changing how the gig economy operates,\u201d Songroth said. \u201cWe let all of our providers quote their own jobs and keep 100% from each job. We are making providers much more money and they’re coming to us. It also saves the customers 20-30 percent.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sondgroth graduated from San Benito High School in 2002. His father, Frank Perez, has taught generations of locals for 30 years\u2014and counting\u2014at the campus now known as Hollister High School.<\/p>\n
After graduating from SBHS, Sondgroth attended Gavilan College, then Dominican University where he studied art. He dropped out of Dominican to take a trip to Italy, \u201cwhich was the best trip ever,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
When he returned stateside, he took a job as a designer for a company that produces promotional products. He was soon promoted to national sales, and about 18 years ago the company moved him to New York City, where Sondgroth still lives.<\/p>\n
After a few years of traveling all over the U.S., Sondgroth \u201cgot tired of that\u201d job and sought a career change. He found a position with a software developer in Argentina.<\/p>\n
He was laid off from that job, which pushed him into \u201csurvival mode\u201d\u2014a transition that instantly inspired and motivated him to get FAVR online. Sondgroth said the idea of an app like FAVR that gives gig economy workers more control had been simmering in his mind for a while.<\/p>\n
His own personal experience in the gig economy without a full-time job helped reinforce the need.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll the people in this gig economy are kind of treated like human meat. That\u2019s their best option, and they\u2019re making less than minimum wage,\u201d Songroth said. \u201cThe platforms take over and squeeze these guys. I wanted to do the opposite and build a platform that is 100% supportive of them.\u201d<\/p>\n
When seeking a ride, delivery or other service offered on FAVR, the customer enters all the relevant inputs (such as pickup and destination address for a rideshare), which are received by all providers in the area. Each driver or provider then has the option to submit a \u201cproposal\u201d or bid price for the job.<\/p>\n
The customer only sees one bid at a time; they can either accept the first bid or reject it and select a different offer from the next provider.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver 90% of people are accepting the first offer they get,\u201d Sondgroth said.<\/p>\n
After a trial period, FAVR will produce revenue through monthly membership fees paid by the providers, who otherwise keep all their customers\u2019 proceeds.<\/p>\n
Sondgroth\u2019s father, who teaches U.S. History at Hollister High, said his son has always been a hard worker and filled with determination. A clear example is Sondgroth\u2019s \u201cpassion\u201d for basketball since he was a child.<\/p>\n
Although Sondgroth entered high school as an undersized freshman who hadn\u2019t yet hit his growth spurt\u2014competing for a spot with bigger, stronger teammates\u2014he stuck with it and later played for both Gavilan and Dominican University.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was the only one (from his high school team) who went on to play college basketball. That\u2019s not an easy thing to do,\u201d Perez said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that\u2019s the lesson he took\u2014being committed to something and not giving up, with no guarantee it\u2019s going to work. It\u2019s not an easy thing to do,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Perez also noted that Sondgroth is a \u201cnatural born\u201d artist. \u201cThe creative side is transferred into this app. There\u2019s a bridge between being the artist and developing this app,\u201d Perez mused.<\/p>\n
Sondgroth\u2019s mother, Brenda Perez, has been an ongoing positive influence on Tommy and his two younger brothers.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe really did instill in those boys what it means to be a hard worker, to be a good person,\u201d Frank Perez said.<\/p>\n
With technical and financial help from friends and investors, Sondgroth launched FAVR in late 2025. Still in the early stages of establishing the brand, he is also on the ground doing the legwork to make the app take off. Last weekend, he was at the SAP Center rideshare parking lot during the San Jose Sharks game, handing out QR codes for FAVR to Uber and Lyft drivers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re getting downloads and signups every day,\u201d Sondgroth said.<\/p>\n