By Sabriel Zapata, October 27, 2026
Cal Poly Pomona students have a new platform to buy and sell items with Tovu, an app released Oct. 10 created by mechanical engineering student Bryce Clepper.
Tovu is a marketplace exclusively for CPP students, with users verified through their student email. Clepper developed the platform to solve finding a safe, convenient way to exchange goods directly on campus.
Tovu is a marketplace offering students a secure way to buy and sell items within their campus community. Unlike public platforms such as Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, Tovu is designed specifically for CPP students, reducing the risks associated with selling to non-college students.
Clepper said the idea for Tovu began this past summer when he and his friends needed a phone charger but could not leave campus because they did not have a car.
“There wasn’t a place for students to connect with each other and exchange items conveniently.” Clepper said.
Clepper worked on Tovu alongside his mentor Ryan Diew, an entrepreneur and principal and chief technology officer at Base Ventures. With Diew’s guidance, Clepper spent months building and coding Tovu, balancing the project with coursework and a summer job at Base Ventures.
Tovu launched for the first time in July 2026 as a website. Daniel Umegboh, a computer information systems student, was among the first students to use the platform. Umegboh said he appreciates the frequent updates and the focus on safety, but believes the app would benefit from more users.
“It’s great that it’s just for college students, and it is more localized, I was even able to sell my electric guitar on Tovu,” Umegboh said.
If more students are aware of the safety features on Tovu, such as the app being made only for CPP students, more students would be interested in joining, according to Clepper.
Safety was a top priority from the beginning, according to Clepper.
On Tovu, students are required to verify their CPP email before accessing the marketplace. However, due to the school’s email restrictions, verification emails weren’t reaching students, which prevented them from completing the signup process. To address this, the app was updated to allow students to sign up using their personal emails, according to Clepper.
Tovu is currently working toward resolving the issue with the school and restoring student email verification, according to Clepper.
Payments on Tovu are processed through Stripe, a third-party service that ensures secure transactions. No cash is exchanged in person, and sellers receive the full amount offered for their items after Stripe’s commission. Clepper said this system adds a layer of security and accountability, giving both buyers and sellers peace of mind.
“It’s important that users feel confident when making transactions,” Clepper said. “We wanted to create a space where students could trust each other.”
Joel Mwathi, a civil engineering student, compared Tovu to Depop but only for college students. After using the app for a month, Mwathi said it worked smoothly and thinks it’s cool to see other students advertising on the app. He recommends students to get on Tovu.
Campus organizations have also played a role socially in Tovu’s growth, according to Clepper.
Clepper credited the National Society of Black Engineers for supporting Tovu’s development, providing advice and feedback throughout the process. He said the organization’s encouragement motivated him as he built the platform.
Taking feedback from NSBE, Clepper said he was able to improve the app to make it easier to use for students.
“It’s easy to use and makes it simple to find what you need on campus,” Mwathi said.
Looking to the future, Clepper hopes Tovu will become the go-to marketplace for CPP students.
To grow the number of students on the platform, Clepper said he has been posting on social media as well as passing out Tovu flyers on campus with more information about the app to promote Tovu.
“My long-term vision is for students to think of Tovu first whenever they need something on campus,” Clepper said. “Before buying something new, I want them to check Tovu to see if they can find it from another student.”
With the launch of the new mobile app, students can download the app for free and start connecting with peers to buy and sell items within the campus community.
As the platform grows, Clepper said he encourages more students to join and participate, believing a strong, student-centered marketplace can make campus life more convenient, affordable, and safe for everyone.
