Выпускник USF запустил безопасный маркетплейс для студентов университета

USF alumnus creates university-only marketplace focused on student safety A new app created by a USF alumnus is giving students a way to buy, sell and deliver items within the university community while aiming to make transactions safer. iCommute, which launched on the App Store and Google Play, is an app specifically designed for university students, according to the iCommute website. The app lets students buy and sell items, including dorm supplies and textbooks, with delivery options for nearby purchases, according to the iCommute website. Andre Nelson, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in information security in 2025, launched the app in July. Nelson said the app was created to address safety concerns that come with meeting strangers through online marketplaces. He said the idea came from wanting to create a platform where students can interact with other members of their campus community rather than relying on third-party marketplaces such as Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp that anyone can access. “Everybody around USF lives kind of close to each other,” Nelson said. “All the [off-campus apartments] are like a three-mile radius from the USF campus and obviously the dorms … The whole purpose of it is that if you’re going home, you can go pick something up.” Currently, users are required to upload a photo of their USF ID before using the app to help maintain safety. Nelson said an admin with USF email access verifies the submitted information to confirm a user’s identity. The app operates independently from USF and is not affiliated with the university. As the app develops, Nelson hopes to eventually allow students to verify their identities through their USF email addresses, making the process easier for users. “It’s supposed to be an affordable way for people to be able to buy something and then [say], ‘Oh, it’s a few miles away,’” Nelson said. “‘I can just go drop it off or pick it up, whatever it is.’” Related: Veteran-founded pop culture convention brings trading cards, cosplay to Tampa Liz Neves (no relation to writer), a junior psychology student, said she has previously bought a mini fridge through Snapchat and has seen students use social media to buy or sell items. Neves said she felt comfortable with her purchase because she had a connection to the seller, as they were a USF student. She said that an exclusive USF marketplace could create a similar sense of familiarity and trust. “I’d rather know that people are a part of a community,” Neves said. “It’s easier to feel safer because if you’re also part of that community, then there’s a sense of belonging from both parts.” Neves also said keeping exchanges within the USF community could make transactions more convenient because students could meet on or near campus. “You can just pick it up on campus, and it makes life a lot easier, especially where you’re already living on campus anyway,” Neves said. Other students said they have been cautious when using third-party marketplaces. Ariana Leonard, a freshman nursing major, said she has purchased items through Facebook Marketplace. While she said she is generally comfortable with third-party companies, negative experiences she has heard about have made her more cautious. Leonard said that she would feel more confident using a platform such as iCommute. “I [have] definitely heard bad stories about [third-party platforms],” Leonard said. “I would like to have a better idea of who the person is, whereas on Instagram or something, I have no idea who that person is.” Trinity Rodriguez, a freshman health science major, said she would prefer a USF-exclusive marketplace because users would have a better idea of who they are interacting with. Rodriguez said that with another marketplace, she would feel the need to research the seller before buying anything. “If I were to purchase through a third party,” Rodriguez said, “I would just do research on who I’m purchasing and getting from and make sure that it’s trustworthy.” Related: USF alumnus Chad Mallo returns to campus as summer camp leader 25 years post-graduation Nelson said the long-term goal extends beyond the marketplace. Currently, iCommute not only offers students a marketplace, but also food delivery services. The app charges delivery fees based on distance, ranging from $2.99 for on-campus deliveries to $4.99 for orders within 3 miles, with no additional service fees, according to the iCommute website. Nelson said the service is intended to give students a more affordable option for getting food without relying on traditional delivery platforms. The founders also hope to eventually add a ridesharing feature for students who need transportation but do not have access to a car. “I think the main issue that a lot of the USF students have is that … you could go anywhere nearby, and if you don’t have a car, it’s terrible because it’s so expensive to get an Uber or something like that,” Nelson said. He said the same student-verification system could be used to create a more controlled environment for ridesharing. “It’s supposed to be a safe way to connect with students for rideshare in the future,” Nelson said. “But for now, it’s just a marketplace” As iCommute continues to grow, its ability to verify users and maintain a reliable platform could determine whether students view it as a trusted app in the community. “USF is our home, and we want our fellow USF students to have the best experience,” Nelson said. “I still live pretty close by, so it’s nice to be able to go on campus and talk to people. We would love to expand it to other universities and try to provide the same kind of safe environment.”