Adrien Filoche
Published on
Finding a sports partner isn’t always easy. To address this issue that he himself has faced many times, Rouen resident Valentin Harrang has developed an application. Named Buddiz, this completely free tool allows athletes to find partners, near their location, based on their level and availability, and organize outings with just a few clicks. As an independent entrepreneur in the tech industry, Valentin shares the genesis of his project. “Initially, I created the Facebook group Padel Normandie to bring players together in the region,” he explains. A community that now has over 1500 members.
An app created in a few months
But the Normand wanted a simpler tool, with the ability to expand to other sports practices. It only took him a few months to bring his idea to life. At the beginning of 2026, he used his independent status to dedicate 100% to developing his application. A few months later, in March of that year, Buddiz was available.
«Currently, the app is downloadable on IOS and web browsers. We are preparing the release on Android in the coming days,» the creator explains.
User-friendly and free
Buddiz’s great strength lies in its user-friendly nature. Once a profile is created, users can choose one of the four sports practices available on the app: padel, running, hiking, or five (5-a-side football). “Soon, we will add cycling,” notes Valentin.
After making this choice, users can either create a session or join one created by another user. For example: someone plans a Padel match in Isneauville on April 12 at 7 pm and needs three players. As a user, I can choose to sign up. “There is the option to communicate directly with users through the application,” he explains.
Users can also search on a map, providing an overview of all sessions within a radius.
To facilitate the search, you will have a «compatibility score» for each profile you interact with. “What is considered are the level, availability, and geographical location,” explains the developer. Because there is nothing more frustrating than playing or running with someone who is light-years away from your level, whether higher or lower.
Useful features
In his ambitious quest, Valentin relies on the support of Romain, one of his friends. “I loved the idea and immediately believed in him,” emphasizes the one responsible for communication and feedback on the application. “He is my first tester,” Valentin says with a smile.
For this comprehensive and ergonomic application, Valentin is still thinking about additional features to add. “We have a base and can expand to many other disciplines,” he assures. And to specify: “For women, for example, we have envisioned a functionality to allow them to run together. We know that this can be more reassuring.”
The developer also mentions an option that is already in place, the ability to set an alert to be notified of a session creation at a specific time slot. “Let’s say I want to run on Thursdays at 7 pm or play a five-a-side. I can be notified by the app as soon as a user creates a session at that time,” he details.
«Promoting sports practice»
In addition to being practical, the app has another advantage: it is completely free and works without advertisements. “With Romain, we are thinking of ways to monetize, but for now, our goal is to grow our community, get known,” emphasizes the Rouen resident.
Today, Buddiz has around 200 to 300 members, a community mainly concentrated in Normandy. But over time, the developer hopes to expand the reach of his tool to benefit more people. “Exercising alone is sometimes complicated. My goal is to bring together athletes and promote sports practice,” he summarizes.
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