Where it started
A gap in how people find support
About three years ago, Tanner Katari, CEO of BuddyPath, was going through some personal challenges. As he searched for guidance and someone he could relate to, he began to realize there was a significant gap in how people find support.
For many people, professional counseling can be expensive, difficult to schedule, or simply not the type of help they’re looking for. While education and professional credentials are extremely valuable, Tanner realized that sometimes the person you really want to talk to isn’t someone who studied your situation in a textbook.
It’s someone who’s actually lived it.
Someone who has:
- Been through a divorce
- Raised a child with autism
- Built a successful business
- Overcome addiction
- Navigated trauma
- Faced the same challenges you’re experiencing today
Tanner started thinking about how many people in the world have incredible stories, experiences, and lessons they’ve learned along the way. People who have overcome challenges, achieved their goals, or simply experienced something that someone else is currently going through.
Yet there wasn’t an easy way to connect those people with someone who could benefit from their experiences.
That’s where the idea for BuddyPath began.
Tanner wanted to create something that would make it easier for people to find guidance from someone who truly understands what they’re going through because they’ve been there themselves.
Matched on what you’ve lived
Today, BuddyPath is building an AI-powered mentorship marketplace that connects people based on their real-life experiences, challenges, accomplishments, and goals — not just their education, credentials, or professional titles.
BuddyPath is designed to make mentorship accessible across virtually every area of life, including business, entrepreneurship, leadership, health and wellness, parenting, relationships, career development, and personal growth.
But what excites Tanner most about BuddyPath goes beyond professional mentorship.
It’s the idea that something you’ve experienced in your life, whether good or bad, could be exactly what someone else needs to hear.
You don’t need to be famous, wealthy, or have a degree to make a difference in someone’s life.
Sometimes, your greatest qualification is simply what you’ve been through.
That’s the foundation BuddyPath is being built on.