The concept is simple. Need a favor, give a favor.
On FavorIt, a new student-made app launched July 1, UF students can save on food delivery and carpool services by giving and accepting favors. Anyone with a school-affiliated email can sign up to request help with rides, food delivery and groceries on the app. Other students can make some money by picking up the favors and completing them.
The idea to create the app came to Maheer Patel, a 20-year-old UF biochemistry junior, after he got home from a trip and suffered extreme jet lag. He remembered thinking to himself, “why won’t my neighbor bring me milk?”
“The reason is because my neighbor doesn’t know I need milk, my neighbor doesn’t know how I’m going to pay him back, and my neighbor doesn’t know where to drop it off,” Patel said. “So I figured, ‘Why don’t I try solving that.’”
The most efficient way, he said, was software.
In its summer testing phase, the app only offered food favors to see if students were interested. An updated version launched Aug. 14 offers grocery and carpool services, too.
The app has garnered 850 downloads and 500 signups since it first launched. Its Instagram page has over 300,000 views and over 1,000 followers.
The app receives continuous updates, Patel said, ensuring the software works to the best of its ability. And its developers are always recruiting more users.
“The more people are involved, the higher likelihood is that there's going to be a favor that's needed, and there's a high likelihood that you’re going to make money,” Patel said.
Kush Miryala, a 20-year-old UF computer science and economics junior, said he has used the app to deliver food a few times while studying. Miryala found the process quick and convenient, he said, and he appreciated the chance to continue studying while avoiding Uber Eats fees.
“They’re making money, and I’m saving time,” Miryala said. “It’s just a win-win for everybody.”
Using the product comes with financial advantages, said Jess Anderson, a 19-year-old UF computer science sophomore and the user experience engineer for FavorIt. Ordering food delivery on the app costs about 40% less than on similar platforms, according to the app’s website.
The student who requests the favor sets its price — and if nobody picks up the favor, the requester can adjust the fee.
A Chipotle burrito, for example, costs $8.60 when ordered directly from the store. When ordered from DoorDash, the app pushes the price to $11.20. After fees, the final price of a burrito climbs to $19.26 — and that’s before the tip.
FavorIt adds none of those extra fees, and students can set their own pricing for how much they want to pay for the deliveries.
Made by students and for students, the app works based on what students want and what will be the most helpful to them.
“The idea’s that someone else will help you out, and in the future, maybe then you’ll help someone else out,” Anderson said. “It’s just trying to connect everyone in a way that we haven’t been before.”
Dazia Tyre, a 19-year-old UF animal science sophomore, said she discovered the app while scrolling on Instagram, and she thought it would be good to use if she needed a ride to class.
“Coming from a student entrepreneur myself, I think it’s a great idea, just tackle the issues that we have and try to gain something from it.” Tyre said.
Contact Madeline Herring at mherring@alligator.org. Follow her on X @m_herring06.
Madeline is a first-year journalism and environmental science double major and the Fall 2025 general assignment reporter. In her free time she enjoys reading, binging new television series, and browsing the isles of target with her friends.
