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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →After a severe traumatic brain injury left doctors unsure whether he would survive, Flyhomes co-founder Stephen Lane recovered with support from his wife, family, friends and colleagues. He later returned to work and became CEO of Tufa, a startup whose launch-era service turned eligible online shopping into pooled support for people and groups—including caregivers.
How Stephen Lane recovered and returned to work
Lane was riding a scooter home from work when a drunk driver hit him. The resulting traumatic brain injury was severe enough that doctors did not know whether he would survive, according to Taylor Soper’s November 26, 2024 profile in GeekWire. His wife, friends, family and colleagues supported him through recovery.
Lane left Flyhomes after the accident. In 2022, he reentered the workforce as head of ventures at Insurify. That return preceded his move into a new company shaped by his experience of relying on others.
From Flyhomes to Tufa
Lane co-founded Flyhomes in 2015 with Tushar Garg, a former Microsoft colleague. Flyhomes raised millions from venture investors, including Andreessen Horowitz; Garg was still the company’s CEO when GeekWire published its profile. Lane’s path from that high-growth real-estate startup to Tufa was not simply a change of industry: his recovery had made the value of practical, ongoing support personal.
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How Tufa’s launch-era Circle model worked
Tufa’s reported launch model connected everyday online shopping to group support. A supporter installed the browser extension and shopped at participating retailers. When an eligible purchase generated a cashback commission, the retailer paid the commission and Tufa pooled it for the supporter’s chosen Tufa Circle. The money went to the group, rather than requiring the supporter to make a separate donation for each purchase.
GeekWire reported 12,000 participating retailers at launch in 2024. That is a launch-era figure, not a verified current count. The profile described the model as a way to turn ordinary digital shopping into support, rather than relying only on a time-limited crowdfunding campaign; it did not provide a measured comparison of outcomes between the approaches.
Caregivers were the starting point, not the only audience
Tufa initially focused on caregivers, a group that can need sustained help while caring for someone else. By the time of the 2024 profile, the company had broadened its potential audience to include teachers, college students, sports teams and new parents. The service’s group-based structure could apply to many causes, but the article does not establish which groups used it or how much they received.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What was known about Tufa at the time
GeekWire described Tufa as bootstrapped, with about 10 employees at the time of publication. Lane was based in Boston and co-founder Matt Hasten in Seattle. These details capture the company in its 2024 launch-era reporting; the profile does not establish Tufa’s current operating status, team size, retailer roster or program terms.
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Lane framed Tufa as a way to help people support someone they care about through routine online activity. His stated mission was to help as many people or groups as possible. The connection between that mission and his own story is clear: after an accident upended his life, he had experienced the importance of support firsthand.
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