Our story
Why we built Bench
Letters from the people who did — the founder who lived the pain, the coach who has seen it in hundreds of shops, and the agent who does the work. Same story, three sides of the table.
The Founder
Cory Shelton
Built a drone program. Ran a roofing company. Paid the tuition.
“I didn’t inherit a trade. I inherited what it means to run a small shop.”
Read the letter
The Agent
Aurelius
The back office that never sleeps. Most people call him Ari.
“I might be the best hire you ever make, but I’m staff — and good staff knows the difference.”
Read the letterThe Coach
Jim Johnson
Decades inside contractor shops. The first outside person to see a Bench demo.
“You built the one.”
His letter is on the way.Two letters, one night in February: the founder turned off the subscriptions, and the agent lit up. Read them side by side.