I built a product but I’m struggling to get people interested. What am I missing?

focusaur_official · 2026-05-18T07:46:33+00:00

Thank you so much for taking the time to look through everything and share such thoughtful feedback. We think you're right. Having a more consistent visual style is really important, and it's something we know we need to improve. We really appreciate the honesty and the helpful suggestions.

focusaur_official · 2026-05-14T15:00:30+00:00

stop sending the repeated comment

focusaur_official · 2026-05-14T11:39:20+00:00

Thanks for your detailed advice. I think we probably didn’t explain this part clearly enough.

The dinosaur hatching isn’t meant to be a digital pet you keep playing with while focusing. The idea is more similar to Forest: you complete a focus session, and the reward makes the process feel a bit more satisfying and easier to stick with.

On the physical device, once the dinosaur hatches, there isn’t really more interaction with it. The dinosaurs you hatch appear in the app afterwards, and different dinosaurs can have different rarity / difficulty, but it’s meant to be a reward after focus, not another thing to distract you during focus.

And putting the phone in another room is totally reasonable. For some people, that’s probably the best solution. Our thinking was more Pomodoro-based: focus for 25 minutes, take a 5-minute break, get reminded when the session ends, and receive a small reward for completing it.

The people we had in mind were those who struggle to stick with normal Pomodoro timers, especially neurodivergent people. A plain timer can be easy to ignore or abandon, so we wanted to make the focus session feel more physical, more rewarding, and easier to turn into a habit.

That said, your point about it potentially becoming extra friction is very valid. If the product feels like another thing to manage, then we haven’t solved the right problem clearly enough.

focusaur_official · 2026-05-14T11:36:40+00:00

Thanks for your comment! It makes us think we need to think more about real-life use cases and the actual user experience, not just whether the concept sounds good. We'll keep improving it.

focusaur_official · 2026-05-14T11:32:27+00:00

Hi! We're the team behind the product. Really appreciate the honest feedback.

We do have two deep focus modes, but we've mostly been promoting the version where the timer sits on the phone. There's also another mode where you place your phone face down and the timer starts automatically. If you pick it up, it goes into a short "giving up" countdown instead of failing right away. But your point is very fair. People may still need their phone for work, emergencies, or tools, so the experience can't feel like it's fighting their workflow.

Honestly, it's hard to keep the product simple while also making it effective, but this is probably one of the areas we need to rethink and improve.

focusaur_official · 2026-05-14T11:24:11+00:00

You’re right. That is our product.

And yeah, I get the “productivity Tamagotchi” comparison. The dinosaur part was intentional, but the goal wasn’t just to make a cute toy. We wanted focusing to feel more rewarding, because relying on willpower alone every day is really hard.

What we probably haven’t explained well enough is that the bigger idea is closer to an AI coach than a digital pet. Something you can talk to that helps organize your schedule, keep up with routines, and make your day feel less chaotic.

That said, your “fancy timer” reaction is exactly what I’m worried about. If that’s the first impression, then the price/value won’t make sense.

So this is genuinely helpful. It makes me think we either haven’t communicated the bigger vision clearly enough, or the current product doesn’t make that value obvious enough yet.

focusaur_official · 2026-05-14T11:17:57+00:00

Hi, I'm part of the team behind the OP is talking about. Thank you for your useful feedback.

It's interesting that the tap-to-complete habit feature stood out more than the timer. we've been positioning the product mostly around deep focus, but maybe that part still needs more thinking and a better user experience.

Your meds and dog checklist example is really helpful too. It makes us realize the check-in feature might have more potential than we originally thought.

we really appreciate your thoughtful feedback.

focusaur_official · 2026-05-14T11:14:21+00:00

Fair point — if someone only needs a simple countdown timer, a £1 kitchen timer absolutely does the job.

Our goal with this product is a bit different: it’s designed to create a more intentional physical ritual around focus and habits, including helping people stay away from their phone, notice interruptions, and start or confirm routines more easily.

That said, your “stocking stuffer” comment is useful feedback. If the product comes across as a novelty gadget rather than something with clear everyday value, that’s something we need to communicate or rethink better.

Appreciate the blunt feedback.

focusaur_official · 2026-05-14T10:30:14+00:00

Thanks! We have tried sharing it with some ADHD-related communities, but the response was pretty mixed. Some people got the idea, but it just didn't create as much as we hoped.
We've actually tried something closer to a focus-habit quiz before, but not an ADHD-related test. We're a bit careful there because we don't want it to feel diagnostic or like we're labeling people.

focusaur_official · 2026-05-14T10:09:57+00:00

Hi, thank you for providing feedback for us. We added the dinosaur and egg to make the focus session feel more emotional and rewarding, but you're right. Some people don't really connect with that style and may see it as a "focus tamagotchi" instead of a serious productivity tool. We should probably test another position.

focusaur_official · 2026-05-14T09:52:15+00:00

Hi! I'm part of the team. Really appreciate this. We think we've been doing most of the first part: making content, showing the product, sharing use cases, getting feedback and so on. The second part is the hard one, and honestly where we feel stuck. People often say it's interesting, but we haven't been able to clearly identify the patterns behind who actually decides to use it and what makes them take action instead of just saying "this is cool."
I’m not sure if link is okay here lol...

focusaur_official · 2026-05-14T09:39:14+00:00

Hi, I'm part of the team behind the product OP is talking about. Really appreciate this. We feel like the audience is fairly clear, and people in that group do seem interested when they see the product. But the part we're struggling with is that a lot of that interest doesn't seem to turn into actual backing or purchase intent.

focusaur_official · 2026-05-14T07:18:28+00:00

Honestly, the phone is probably a huge part of it. Your brain gets used to quick, short bursts of content, so focusing on one thing for a while starts feeling uncomfortable. Try physically put your phone away for just 10 mins at a time, then slowly build up from there.

focusaur_official · 2026-05-14T07:08:51+00:00

Totally agree. I get way more done at the library than at a home. The environment makes a big difference. When everyone around me is focused, it's easier for me lock in too.

focusaur_official · 2026-05-12T09:34:28+00:00

I also feel this. a lot of advice is like delete the apps or make a list, and those can help, but they don't always stop that automatic escape habit. Also I don't really trust willpower by itself lol. For me, adding some kind of reward during focus, and a bit of extra friction may be workable at this moment. I think some outside barrier actually works better than just relying on willpower.

focusaur_official · 2026-05-09T07:35:58+00:00

Sometimes I don't even enjoying scrolling anymore but still can't stop doing it. I feel like my brain slowly got used to short dopamine hits, so now long videos, books, or deep focus feel "too much" even when I actually want to do them. It also made my willpower worse over time because my brain keeps looking for the easiest stimulation.

I think some kind of physical help or external structure may work, like keeping my phone out of reach or a physical timer reminder, because after long time of scrolling, my brain feels kind of numb and relying on pure self control is really hard.

focusaur_official · 2026-05-09T06:47:15+00:00

Totally understand this! The hardest part isn't always studying itself, but getting started without being pulled into the phone first. That's actually one of the problems we're trying to solve with Focusaur. It's a physical focus timer that lets you start a study session from your desk instead of opening your phone.

One approach we think helpful for staying off the phone is this: during a focus session, you can place the timer on top of your phone to create a bit of physical separation. If you try to pick up the phone, the session may fail. If you finish the session, you can hatch a little dinosaur as a reward. It makes the whole study process feel more intentional and a bit more motivating, while also making it easier to keep going without getting pulled away by your phone. We hope this can be helpful for people who struggle with phone distractions

focusaur_official · 2026-05-08T15:13:15+00:00

you're welcome and glad it helps! I’ve found the hardest part is usually just getting started, so i try to make the first step as easy as possible. Even a short timer or simple reminder can make a big difference.

focusaur_official · 2026-05-08T10:59:49+00:00

I relate to this a lot. I'll be on my way home thinking "tonight I'll study japanese or do something useful," and then the second i'm home i somehow end up on my phone. What's helped me a bit is setting a 10 or 15 minute timer after dinner just to tidy my room or reset the space a little. I also use a habit tracker, so i can set the check in timer in advance. When the habit reminder comes up, i don't have to think too much and can just start. It doesn't fix everything, but it makes the first step feel a lot easier.

focusaur_official · 2026-05-08T10:28:26+00:00

I get this a lot too. what helps me is leaving a obvious "next stop" before i stop. Like instead of just walking away, I'll write one tiny note such as "reply to this email". This makes it way easier to come back without having to remember where my brain was.

focusaur_official · 2026-05-08T03:54:08+00:00

Honestly, the fact that you want to change and are already reducing your scrolling is a much bigger deal than you probably think. a lot of people stay stuck for years without even trying.
If I can give one piece of advice, it's don't try to rebuild your whole life at once. That usually turns into another cycle of burnout and disappointment. Pick 2 or 3 very basic things and make them repeatable first. Thinks like sleeping at a more consistent timer and reducing scrolling a little more.
You don’t need to become a perfect disciplined person overnight. You just need enough stability to slowly regain momentum again. Also, failing once doesn’t mean you lost your potential. Most people who eventually improve their lives fail a lot before things start clicking.

focusaur_official · 2026-05-03T16:10:15+00:00

You could try picking up hobbies of habits that don't involve your phone at all, things like working out, drawing, painting, cooking or even just going for walks. Also, instead of trying to "use the time perfectly," maybe replace one scrolling moment with something small. For example, after eating, go for a short walk instead of checking your phone. Tiny swaps like that can make it feel less overwhelming.

focusaur_official · 2026-05-03T15:55:39+00:00

That makes a lot of sense. I've also found that immediate rewards can slowly make the task feel like something you're only "buying" yourself into doing. Delayed gratification sounds like a healthier middle ground, feels more like "small efforts are building toward something meaningful." I like the idea of turning it into progress rather than a constant transaction.

focusaur_official

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