Bidlet was founded on September 20, 2025. The idea grew out of a simple conversation between Toby and his father. Toby had painted a piece he wanted to sell, but despite his efforts, it wasn’t getting much attention. When he explored auction houses, he found that many turned him down—partly because of his age, and partly because he wasn’t considered a “professional artist.”

That sparked a question: what if there were a place where young people could sell their creations more easily? Toby’s dad suggested the idea of a platform where kids could run their own auctions for free. Inspired, Toby came up with the name Bidlet later that night—combining “bid” with a playful ending like “piglet” or “kidlet.”

The very next day, Toby began searching for ways to bring the idea to life. Existing marketplace platforms were far too expensive, with annual plans reaching over $1000. With only about $10 in his account and a $400 budget, he decided to build something from scratch—transforming a simple, no-cost e-commerce store into what would become the first version of Bidlet.

“When I started, I barely had enough resources to put something together,” Toby recalls. “But the vision was clear: to make a space where kids can showcase their creativity."