We recently connected with John Harmon and have shared our conversation below.
Hi John, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.
My optimism comes from the belief that innovation can solve problems that feel too big to tackle. With ObiiGO, the app I founded, we’re building technology that makes auto repair faster, fairer, and more transparent. But the real spark for me is our Service Every Car campaign in California, which connects everyday car maintenance to something much larger—improving air quality and public health for millions of people.
California has some of the toughest challenges with pollution and vehicle emissions, but it also has the vision and leadership to embrace change. The truth is, routine maintenance—oil changes, filters, spark plugs, even tire care—has a massive impact on emissions. If we can service every car, we can cut harmful pollutants, extend the life of vehicles, and save families money, all at the same time.
That’s where my optimism comes from: knowing that a single idea, scaled properly, can create measurable impact. When I see ObiiGO not just as an app, but as a movement that could help California breathe cleaner air and lower healthcare costs tied to poor air quality, I know we’re on the right path. It’s hard not to be optimistic when the road ahead is that clear.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m the founder of ObiiGO, an automotive repair platform I started because of a personal frustration. Like so many drivers, I found myself wasting hours calling around to repair shops, never knowing if I was getting a fair price or the fastest service. On the other side, I saw shop owners struggling with outdated systems, losing business to big-box competitors, and missing the chance to connect directly with customers. That disconnect is what sparked ObiiGO.
With ObiiGO, drivers get instant quotes from nearby shops, compare options, and book service in minutes. On average, our users see repair bills that are 40% lower, while also saving several hours of valuable personal time they would have otherwise spent driving from shop to shop or calling around for estimates. Shops win too — they gain new business without giving up their margins to high transaction fees.
But ObiiGO is more than convenience — it’s a chance to create real impact. Our “Service Every Car” campaign in California connects routine maintenance to cleaner air, healthier communities, and lower costs for families. By keeping vehicles properly serviced, we can reduce emissions dramatically. It’s a reminder that innovation in something as ordinary as car repair can ripple out into extraordinary results for public health and the environment.
Looking forward, we’re expanding aggressively — adding service categories like tires, body shops, and detailing; launching in new U.S. cities; and preparing to expand into global markets like Germany, India, Mexico, Brazil, and Australia. My vision is bold but simple: to make ObiiGO the largest auto repair network in the world, while showing that technology can make life easier for drivers, more profitable for shops, and healthier for all of us.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back, three qualities have shaped my journey more than anything else:
1. Resilience. Entrepreneurship will test you constantly — apps get rejected, partnerships fall through, funding takes longer than expected. What’s made the difference for me is the ability to take setbacks as part of the process, not the end of it. My advice: build a mindset where obstacles fuel you instead of stopping you. Every “no” gets you closer to the “yes” that matters.
2. Vision. With ObiiGO, I’ve always seen the bigger picture: not just an app for auto repair, but a platform that can improve air quality, reduce healthcare costs, and change how people think about car ownership. Having that vision gave me the persistence to keep going even when the day-to-day got tough. For those starting out, spend time clarifying why your work matters beyond profits. That clarity becomes your compass.
3. Adaptability. The original ObiiGO model looked different than it does today. We listened to shops, drivers, and even regulators, and we shifted. That flexibility is why we’re now scaling globally. My advice: don’t get too attached to one version of your idea. Stay open, listen hard, and evolve quickly — the market will tell you what it needs if you’re willing to hear it.
For anyone early in their journey, I’d say this: don’t try to perfect everything before you start. Start, learn, adjust, and keep moving forward. The real growth comes from the feedback loop between your vision and the world’s response to it.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Yes, absolutely — collaboration is at the heart of how ObiiGO grows. We’re looking to connect with independent auto repair shops, fleet operators, and community organizations that want to bring fair, transparent, and efficient auto repair to more people. We’re also eager to partner with environmental and public health advocates in California who share our vision for the “Service Every Car” campaign to reduce emissions and improve air quality.
On the technology side, we welcome collaboration with AI innovators, automotive suppliers, and retailers who see the opportunity in scaling ObiiGO as a platform. Our goal is not just to build the largest repair network in the world, but to create a movement that benefits drivers, shops, and communities alike.
If you’re reading this and want to collaborate, the easiest way is to visit www.obiigo.com
or reach out directly to me at [email protected], or through the contact form on our website. We’re always open to conversations with people who share our vision and want to make auto repair faster, fairer, and better for everyone.
Contact Info:
- Website: www. obiigo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/obiigo/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/obiigo/
Image Credits
credit are courtesy of obiigo.
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
