When you lend on Knocknock, you’re not just sharing items, you’re sharing kindness.

In a world that often feels fast, transactional, and individualistic, Knocknock is here to slow things down. Not by making things harder, but by making them more human. We’re not just a platform for borrowing everyday items. At its heart, Knocknock is about kindness, using borrowing as a medium to spark connection, trust, and generosity between people.

The joy of giving even temporarily is something special: Seeing someone light up because you anticipated their need, made their day easier, or helped them do something they couldn’t have done alone. That’s the spirit we’re building through Knocknock. When someone borrows your tile cutter, your pasta machine, your camping fridge, you’re offering them a solution, a moment, a memory. And science shows that giving, even in non-permanent ways, makes us feel good. Really good.

According to Dunn, Aknin, and Norton (2008), spending money on others promotes more happiness than spending it on oneself. This principle extends beyond money. When we give access to our possessions, we participate in what’s known as “prosocial behaviour”, actions intended to benefit others, which are strongly linked to emotional well-being (Aknin et al., 2013). You’re not just handing over an item, you’re creating a moment of goodwill. And often, that feels even better than receiving a gift yourself.

Sharing as a medium for human connection with borrowing being ancient: Long before we had economies or digital platforms, we had neighbours, people we trusted to lend a ladder, a book, a hand. Knocknock brings that spirit back, but in a safer, easier and modern way. Research shows that reciprocity and trust-building are central to the health of our communities. As Putnam (2000) describes in Bowling Alone, social capital, the trust, mutual aid, and connection between people, is vital for strong, resilient societies. Each item shared through Knocknock is a small act of trust that strengthens that social fabric.

In fact, sharing physical objects can increase empathy between people, as it makes them more aware of each other’s needs and more likely to help in the future (Belk, 2010). We’re not just building a network of items; we’re building a network of kindness. Kindness is very Contagious, but in a good way. One beautiful thing about kindness is that it spreads. When someone has a positive experience borrowing an item, say, a neighbour shares with them a kayak for the weekend, they’re more likely to pay it forward. That could mean listing their own gear on Knocknock, or simply being more open and generous in other parts of life.

Christakis and Fowler (2009) found that acts of kindness can ripple through social networks, with one generous act inspiring another up to three degrees away. So, your small act of lending a camping stove may inspire generosity in someone you’ll never meet. That’s powerful.

Borrowing Is the medium, kindness is the message with Knocknock, the item is just the tool: The real product is the interaction, the human moment when one person helps another, not for money, not for recognition, but because it feels good to be helpful. We’re working to reframe how people see ownership. Instead of items gathering dust, they can gather meaning. Instead of hoarding, we’re hosting. Instead of “mine,” we’re saying, “hey, you can use this too.”

Help us build a kinder kind of marketplace with every time you list an item on Knocknock, you’re opening a door. You’re inviting someone in, even briefly, to share what you have and to feel supported by someone they may not have known otherwise. This isn’t just about access to stuff. It’s about creating a kind of joy that’s deeply human, scientifically supported, and socially transformative.

Let’s build a world where kindness is as common as convenience.

References:
  • Aknin, L. B., Dunn, E. W., & Norton, M. I. (2013). Prosocial spending and well-being: Cross-cultural evidence for a psychological universal. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 104(4), 635–652.
  • Belk, R. W. (2010). Sharing. Journal of Consumer Research, 36(5), 715–734.
  • Christakis, N. A., & Fowler, J. H. (2009). Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives. Little, Brown Spark.
  • Dunn, E. W., Aknin, L. B., & Norton, M. I. (2008). Spending money on others promotes happiness. Science, 319(5870), 1687–1688.
  • Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. Simon & Schuster.