01
Scan the box
Point the camera at the barcode. BuildBuddy pulls up the right manual, parses the steps and prepares the build.
BuildBuddy · Pre-launch
Your IKEA manual
just got a co-pilot.
AI-guided assembly,
no swearing required.
BuildBuddy turns flat-pack instructions into a guided, voice-controlled walk-through. Scan the barcode, build at your pace, get unstuck when the diagram does not match the box. Public beta Q3 2026.
8,000+
IKEA & JYSK manuals indexed at launch
Voice
Hands-free step navigation
Gemini
Vision model for stuck-mode diagnosis
Q3 26
Public beta target
How it works
Three steps. No tantrums.
Built for the moment you have got the screwdriver in one hand, an Allen key in the other, and a tiny diagram you cannot read.
02
Build at your pace
Step-by-step on screen. Voice control if your hands are full. Big legible part diagrams. Real assembly photos from people who built it before you.
03
Get unstuck
Stuck on step 14? Take a photo. AI tells you what is off. No more swearing at the wrong screw size.
What it does
Six features. Built for the build.
Designed around the actual moments where flat-pack assembly goes wrong — the ones the cardboard manual never anticipated.
01 — Smart instructions
Scan the barcode. Skip the paper.
BuildBuddy recognises ~8,000 IKEA and JYSK models on launch. The instructions appear on your phone in a guided format — one step at a time, swipe-or-say to advance.
02 — Voice control
Hands on the cam-lock, not the screen.
"Next step." "Go back." "Show me part F." The whole flow runs by voice so you do not need to keep wiping sawdust off your phone.
03 — Part & tool identification
Tell me what this thing is.
Hold a part up to the camera. BuildBuddy names it, finds it in the diagram and tells you which step it belongs to. Same for the tool you cannot identify.
04 — Stuck mode
When the diagram does not match the box.
Snap a photo of where you are. Gemini Pro figures out which step you are on, what looks wrong and what to try next. Optional crowd-sourced tips from past builders.
05 — Build history
Every build, archived.
Pause mid-build, come back tomorrow. BuildBuddy remembers the step. Finished builds save with photos and timing so you have a record (and bragging rights).
06 — Languages
For everyone the manual was not.
IKEA assembly diagrams are language-neutral. The voice guidance is not. BuildBuddy launches with English, Polish, German, Spanish and French — more added based on demand.
Where we are
In alpha. Honest about it.
NOW
Alpha — closed
Core step-through and barcode scan working. Voice control and stuck mode in active development. Internal testing only.
NEXT
Public beta — Q3 2026
Open waitlist invites go out. Free tier active. IKEA and JYSK at launch. Feedback shapes the v1 release.
LATER
v1 release — Q4 2026
Wayfair and La-Z-Boy added. Offline AI cache. Crowd-sourced build tips. Public price announced.
Frequently asked
Straight answers.
Is BuildBuddy live?
Not yet. We are in alpha development and aiming for public beta in Q3 2026. The waitlist is open.
Which furniture brands work?
MVP supports IKEA and JYSK. Around 8,000 models are indexed at launch. Wayfair and La-Z-Boy are on the v1.1 roadmap. If a model is not indexed, BuildBuddy can still parse the PDF instructions on the fly.
Does it work offline?
The basic step-by-step works offline once a manual is downloaded. AI features (stuck mode, part identification, voice TTS) require a network connection in v1. Offline cache is on the v2 roadmap.
How accurate is stuck mode?
It is a coaching tool, not an authority. Gemini Pro reads the photo plus the manual context and suggests likely fixes. Treat it as a clever friend looking over your shoulder — useful, but verify before you reach for the hammer.
Is the assembly history private?
Yes. Build history is stored locally on your phone by default. Optional cloud sync is encrypted in transit and at rest. We never sell or share build data.
How much will it cost?
Pricing is not finalised. The plan is a generous free tier (basic step-through, 1-2 builds per month) plus a low monthly subscription (under £3) for unlimited builds, voice control and stuck mode. Final pricing announced at public beta.
No more IKEA rage. Just flow.
Drop your email and we will let you know the moment the public beta opens. No spam, no upsells — just one email when it goes live.