Helping families unplug from smartphones at home

In a world filled with digital detox apps, how might we design a physical tool that helps people manage their smartphone use?

My two cofounders and I started Atbay, a hardware-as-a-service company, in January 2018 with help from the Venture Asheville Elevate program (a local business mentorship program) and Y Combinator Startup School (a digital version of their in-person accelerator program). Over the course of a year, we developed the first physical tool aimed at managing smartphone use at home. As CEO, I orchestrated a successful Kickstarter campaign in October 2018 that raised over $10,000 in funding, and oversaw handmade production and shipping to customers.