Company
Date Published
Author
Francine Boulanger
Word count
1453
Language
English
Hacker News points
None

Summary

Focusmate is a productivity tool that doesn't block distractions or show checkboxes and tasks, instead offering companionship through 50-minute video-calls booked on its calendar-like interface. The platform partners users with another user who might be part of their organization or shared community, where they explain their goals in 30 seconds and then work individually on projects for 50 minutes before discussing the session. Focusmate's core product was developed thanks to Daily's platform, which provided a polished UI and features like chat out of the box. The company's founder, Taylor Jacobson, struggled with productivity and motivation as an entrepreneur, but found success in using video calls with a friend to stay accountable, leading him to develop Focusmate. By partnering with Daily, Focusmate was able to concentrate on building its core product without worrying about video call quality issues. This partnership has allowed the team to focus on improving the wider customer experience and growing the community, while providing users with a platform to work towards personal goals and build connections with others.