BetterSelf

an app to prevent procrastination

Being undisciplined, whether it’s in the form of lack of focus or motivation, is an extremely prevalent issue: one in every five people are chronic procrastinators. BETTERSELF was created with a clear purpose: to develop an application that combats all types of unproductiveness by focusing on two major sub-issues: lack of focus and lack of self control. The number one reason why people are undisciplined is that there are too many distractions around them that cause them to be unfocused. Many people in today’s age tend to interact with multiple devices at the same time such as using their phone or computer while the TV plays in the background. Furthermore, individuals with no self control are easily distracted by their mobile devices. They are the ones scrolling through social media hours on end and on more likely to be victims of procrastination, which is not surprising considering that working takes discipline. For instance, recent studies have demonstrated that the average person spends around 2 hours per day on social media, and that number has skyrocketed by more than 10% in the past 12 months. In addition, distracted behavior while on mobile technology significantly limits an individual’s ability to understand the material presented in front of them. Therefore, it is extremely important for victims of procrastination to have a method of controlling their urges to check their phone. 

Our mobile application has two major solutions. First, we have a built in daily routine and agenda sorting system in accordance with the pomodoro timer. After users finish typing their task list within the app and adjust the settings to cater their needs, an algorithmic shuffler built within the app that organizes all of your assignments into specific time blocks so the user is productive and not a minute is wasted. We as humans typically think a task will take a short while, but it ends up being much longer than we had expected. The algorithm accounts for that, overshooting the time you think a task will take you by a little bit while still holding the user accountable so they continue being productive. Furthermore, through SEO keywords being coded into the app, BETTERSELF has the ability to keep its users determined to be more productive. Whenever they want to find a productivity system, motivational vlog, study tips, etc, they can go to the video section and find a video they like. Users will feel more engaged with their schoolwork which will help them get their assignments done quicker. Statistics have shown that watching motivational videos every single day gives people more energy and ambition to succeed. It creates a great work ethic which can move users from the bottom of their class all the way to the top. 

BETTERSELF will be competing in the global productivity management software market. In the year 2021, the global market size was valued at USD $47.33 billion and is expected to have a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of  13.8% from 2023 to 2030. Below are the customer segments that BETTERSELF will be focusing on. 

The primary segment we would be targeting is teenagers, both male and female (aged 14-18) in America that are currently high school students as statistics have shown that they tend to procrastinate the most out of all age categories. As of January 2023, there are currently 15.3 million high school students across the US. Our psychographic target would be high school students dealing with time management issues, procrastination, and wasting time through social media. Moreover, our secondary segment would be college and grad students, both male and female (aged 18-28) in America who are older students yet still continue to struggle with procrastination and want to be more productive. 

Each of us possesses unique skills for pursuing this venture. Dhruv and I have handled the marketing and operations end, as we have collectively completed four marketing internships between the two of us. I run an ad based lead generation agency for contractors and nearly have one year’s worth of ad creation experience. Shaurya is our web developer who has certifications in Java and Python, has built several websites, and built multiple applications such as “Tabletop”. We released a beta version last month on ExpoGo where we were able to get user feedback from over 50+ people and teachers that we knew. With the feedback we got, we removed the AI feature, and implemented a foolproof way for students to stay focused by utilizing a lockdown and flip phone feature. It also includes a feature that allows users to set specific goals and reminders to help them stick to them, as well as an intuitive dashboard that displays their study habits using the Pomodoro method as the foundation.

Having been part of this potential user base ourselves, we have surveyed communities in which there are like-minded individuals most specifically on productivity reddit forums, study with me youtube video comment sections posting a link to the survey, and different schools around the state as well as colleges. We released the BETA version through ExpoGo in November of 2022 and got a lot of feedback that we used to create Version 2.0 releasing within the next week. There were a couple flaws that we fixed and new ideas we implemented, such as a global leaderboard for users to track productivity hours. Furthermore, we also installed the "daily routine" feature and made enhancements to our "flip phone" and "lockdown mode", respectively. 

What we are offering is something that the productivity management software market has never seen before. The pomodoro system includes two “focus modes” called “flip phone” and “lockdown” which brings an innovative way to prevent users from being distracted and staying focused on the task at hand. The “flip phone” setting incentivizes the user to keep their phone flipped upside down while they are working so that they are not distracted by the screen/notfications. Secondly, the “lockdown” feature keeps the user inside the app while its activated so that they aren’t tempted to stop working and go on any other apps like social media. If the user exits the app, the pomodoro system will reset. In addition, there is also a videos screen that provides the user with motivational/productivity videos. It refreshes often and can be used as a helpful resource to help users improve their productivity and create healthy studying habits. Another feature that separates this app from others is the ability to create custom-made “routines” which are an important step to establishing healthy study habits. Users can create “routine presets” and define how long they plan to work for and add break intervals in between. This makes using the app convenient, effective, and simple since the main goal is to help users be productive and not distracted. Other alternatives do not include all of these features and often only include limited implementations of some essential features. This app provides people with a definitive solution and provides the best tools to achieve maximum results. 

This app started off as a midnight talk in November of 2020 at 4am in the morning. Dhruv and I were studying for an APUSH exam the next day that we had procrastinated on for weeks. We were angry that we had waited until the last minute and it was during this time that I complained to Dhruv that none of the productivity apps on the App Store were helping. It was during this moment when I told Dhruv that we should create an app that had every feature that we thought was missing from a procrastination app: BetterSelf was born. We have submitted this idea in three competitions in which we placed, gathering feedback from judges and other students who suffer from procrastination. From the very beginning, our goal has been to build a culture of ambition through offering an app service that addressed the very own problems we had when trying to stay productive. A year after placing in our first competition, we met an individual who was immensely talented at coding and could bring our app to fruition. After nearly a year of trial and error, we finally released the BETA version of our app last month with an app store release set a week from today. I think you should expect our team to succeed in putting this idea into action because of what we’ve done over the past couple of years. I think that actions speak louder than words and I believe that our two year commitment to this project speaks volumes of how determined we are to make this work. Over the past year, as Shaurya has been coding the app, Dhruv and I have completed four marketing internships and gained experience through agency owner apprenticeships learning how to run ads and grow CTR (click-through rates) as well as retargeting campaigns. Our connections include our entrepreneurship teacher Mrs. Vitalin, four investors who have expressed interest in the product as well as mentors in ad placement that we have worked under to understand how to monetize the app. 

We have built an app software with built in AI to implement our features. 

- There is a built in pomodoro timer system, where you can stay productive while taking short breaks throughout your work session 

- We have built out a unique focus mode, flip phone mode, and lockdown mode to help users avoid distractions and help users stay focused on tasks.

- Flip phone mode require users to flip their phone or else the timer will not start. If they were to flip their phone back facing them for more than 5 seconds at a time, their work progress would automatically be lost, thus eliminating the possibility of procrastination. 

- Lockdown mode incentivizes you to stay inside the app while working so that you won't be distracted by your phone. You will lose all progress if you exit the app for more than 5 seconds. 

- We have a built in agenda software that allows you to keep track of your goals and see what you have completed. It automatically custom time blocks your tasks into a specific order throughout the day so users don't have to create their own schedule for themselves 

- The app has a built in list of videos that users can refresh with topics on motivation, mental health, productivity and studying tips which users can watch within the app. 

- You can create customizable routines that fit your studying style. You can define the length of your focused work sessions and the number of working and break intervals to establish healthy habits. 

The app will be released within the next week with 500 people already on an email waitlist. In the next year, we plan to serve over 100,000 users. 

- More technical expertise to make sure the app keeps running smooth and efficiently as we accumulate more users

Entrex Lab 

BETTERSELF is a paid app service that acts as a constant companion to help individuals build discipline and beat the temptation of instant gratification. The issue of people seeking instant gratification continues to be more prevalent in society. According to a research study conducted by a university in England, when students were given the option to either a) work on their assignment due next week or b) spend the afternoon hanging out with friends, 88% voted for the second option. BETTERSELF is a multipurpose tool that implements an abundance of features available to users whenever needed so that they can be more productive with their time. A time blocking feature helps users better organize their day 

Being undisciplined, whether it’s in the form of lack of focus or motivation, is an extremely prevalent issue: one in every five people are chronic procrastinators. BETTERSELF was created with a clear purpose: to develop an application that combats all types of unproductiveness by focusing on two major sub-issues: lack of focus and lack of self control. The number one reason why people are undisciplined is that there are too many distractions around them that cause them to be unfocused. Many people in today’s age tend to interact with multiple devices at the same time such as using their phone or computer while the TV plays in the background. Furthermore, individuals with no self control are easily distracted by their mobile devices. They are the ones scrolling through social media hours on end and on more likely to be victims of procrastination, which is not surprising considering that working takes discipline. For instance, recent studies have demonstrated that the average person spends around 2 hours per day on social media, and that number has skyrocketed by more than 10% in the past 12 months. In addition, distracted behavior while on mobile technology significantly limits an individual’s ability to understand the material presented in front of them. Therefore, it is extremely important for victims of procrastination to have a method of controlling their urges to check their phone. 

BETTERSELF will be competing in the global productivity management software market. In the year 2021, the global market size was valued at USD $47.33 billion and is expected to have a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of  13.8% from 2023 to 2030. Below are the customer segments that BETTERSELF will be focusing on. 

The primary segment we would be targeting is teenagers, both male and female (aged 14-18) in America that are currently high school students as statistics have shown that they tend to procrastinate the most out of all age categories. As of January 2023, there are currently 15.3 million high school students across the US. Our psychographic target would be high school students dealing with time management issues, procrastination, and wasting time through social media. Moreover, our secondary segment would be college and grad students, both male and female (aged 18-28) in America who are older students yet still continue to struggle with procrastination and want to be more productive. 

Our mobile application has two major solutions. First, we have a built in daily routine and agenda sorting system in accordance with the pomodoro timer. After users finish typing their task list within the app and adjust the settings to cater their needs, an algorithmic shuffler built within the app that organizes all of your assignments into specific time blocks so the user is productive and not a minute is wasted. We as humans typically think a task will take a short while, but it ends up being much longer than we had expected. The algorithm accounts for that, overshooting the time you think a task will take you by a little bit while still holding the user accountable so they continue being productive. Furthermore, through SEO keywords being coded into the app, BETTERSELF has the ability to keep its users determined to be more productive. Whenever they want to find a productivity system, motivational vlog, study tips, etc, they can go to the video section and find a video they like. Users will feel more engaged with their schoolwork which will help them get their assignments done quicker. Statistics have shown that watching motivational videos every single day gives people more energy and ambition to succeed. It creates a great work ethic which can move users from the bottom of their class all the way to the top. 

BETTERSELF is unique from its competitors as it adds that extra layer of motivation around users that helps them work longer. This allows them to focus all of their attention on their work to make themselves more productive. BETTERSELF accomplishes this through three features. Starting off, through the “flip phone” feature, users will be required to turn their phone upside down whenever they start a study session so they will not be distracted by the screen or incoming notifications. If they were to turn their phone over for longer than 5 seconds during a session, then the timer will automatically reset and all progress will be lost. This will encourage users to continue to stay productive so that their progress is kept. Fostering this incentive will encourage users to keep going because any form of procrastination will make you start over from the beginning. A feature like this will lead to our mobile app retention rate to soar to automatic highs in the industry. BETTERSELF will hold users accountable, helping them stay focused and work harder. Secondly, through “Lockdown Mode”, BETTERSELF gives users that extra barrier of no longer being able to look at their phones, which is the number one reason… especially in the demographic range BETTERSELF is targeting of why individuals cannot maintain focus. It keeps users from looking at their phone, forcing them to stay productive and keep going with the task at hand. Every urge people have to look at their phones… sometimes without consciously realizing it will start to limit itself to a point where one does not do it anymore. Finally, through the app’s “focus mode” 

BETTERSELF will be a free app with premium in-app purchases included. To make money, we will be utilizing Instagram, TikTok, and Google Ads because this is where most individuals in our target market demographic spend their time. As of January 2023, the average high school student is on TikTok for a whopping average of three hours per day with Instagram amounting to an average of two hours. This is how we generate more publicity towards the app which will attract more users, thus generating more revenue. Through attracting more users, we will have sponsored ads within BETTERSELF. We understand that ads within an app can deter users from using our product and is the reason why many apps in the productivity software management market have been suffering a decline in users. To fix this issue, we have gotten expert advice from those who have run ads inside their own apps to figure out the right selection of ad formats to make sure there is well-thought-out ad placement so we can offer better revenue opportunities without jeopardizing user experience. Mobile apps pay well only in apps with large audiences, so through our increase in traffic through running our own ads and then having sponsors through the actual app, we will be able to monetize. Furthermore, our use of a premium version for $1.99 a month will be another way for us to make money.The BETTERSELF mobile application is projecting initial purchases of premium at 1000 downloads in the first four months and expect that number to grow at a rate of 10% each month over the next year, ending at a revenue in the five-figures. 

Each of us possesses unique skills for pursuing this venture. Dhruv and I have handled the marketing and operations end, as we have collectively completed four marketing internships between the two of us. I run an ad based lead generation agency for a beauty brand and nearly have one year’s worth of ad creation experience. Shaurya is our web developer who has certifications in Java and Python, has built several websites, and built multiple applications such as “Tabletop”. We released a beta version last month on ExpoGo where we were able to get user feedback from over 50+ people and teachers that we knew. With the feedback we got, we removed the AI feature, and implemented a foolproof way for students to stay focused by utilizing a lockdown and flip phone feature. It also includes a feature that allows users to set specific goals and reminders to help them stick to them, as well as an intuitive dashboard that displays their study habits using the Pomodoro method as the foundation.

Through attracting more users, we will have sponsored ads within BETTERSELF. We understand that ads within an app can deter users from using our product and is the reason why many apps in the productivity software management market have been suffering a decline in users. To fix this issue, we have gotten expert advice from those who have run ads inside their own apps to figure out the right selection of ad formats to make sure there is well-thought-out ad placement so we can offer better revenue opportunities without jeopardizing user experience. Mobile apps pay well only in apps with large audiences, so through our increase in traffic through running our own ads and then having sponsors through the actual app, we will be able to monetize. Furthermore, our use of a premium version for $1.99 a month will be another way for us to make money.The BETTERSELF mobile application is projecting initial purchases of premium at 1000 downloads in the first four months and expect that number to grow at a rate of 10% each month over the next year, ending at a revenue in the five-figures.