Onward

Who Should Be Interested:
If you’re concerned about your smartphone usage, concerned that you’re becoming addicted to it, or are concerned about someone close to you who might be, then Onward is the investment for you. Their app helps users to use their smartphone less and overcome their digital addictions. Onward is here to shape the future of smartphone use -- for the better.

The Company:
Onward is an app unlike any other app -- it wants you to use it less. As they state on their company’s MicroVenture page, “Onward combines data science and artificial intelligence (AI) to help smartphone users overcome their addictions and curb screen usage. Its specialized programs aim to change unhealthy behaviors related to screen time, social media, shopping, gambling, video games, dating apps, and porn. Through “O,” a chatbot that non-judgmentally interacts with each user through a familiar text/chat interface, Onward encourages users to complete daily check ins, gain new coping skills, block potentially triggering apps or sites, and gain help or interventions using cognitive behavior therapy, as needed. The company is backed with $3.2 million in financing from investors including Founders Fund, Compound Ventures, and Gaingels. As of October 2017, Onward had nearly 10,000 monthly active users.” Onward utilizes a freemium model and is available in both a basic (free) version, as well as a Pro (subscription) version.

The Bottom Line:
In our day and age, we all need to find better tech-life balance. After all, the average US adult spends over 10 hours per day on screen time. It’s time for us all to put the screen down and look up more...and Onward can truly help us find a new digital path in that way.