🦔 Why I Built Denly – The Story Behind It

I wanted productivity tools that worked with my brain, not against it. 💜

For years, I tried every productivity app I could find. They all promised to help me get more done. But instead, they made me feel worse. Every missed streak, every overdue task, every notification felt like a personal failure.

The Problem

Most productivity apps are built on guilt mechanics:

Streaks that punish you for having a bad day
Red badges screaming about overdue tasks
Systems that assume you have the same energy every single day

But that’s not how neurodivergent brains work. Some days I’m in hyperfocus mode, crushing through my to-do list. Other days, just getting out of bed is the win.

Traditional apps don’t understand that. They expect consistency – and when you can’t deliver, they make you feel broken.

The Idea: A “Den” for Your Brain

So I thought: “What if productivity software didn’t try to fix me, but just gave me space?”

That’s how Denly was born – named after a hedgehog’s cozy den. 🦔

A safe place where your brain can just… be. No pressure. No judgment. Just a gentle system that adapts to how you’re actually feeling.

The Aurora System

At the heart of Denly is the Aurora System – 12 different planning modes that match your energy:

✨ Hyperfocus Mode – When you’re in the zone and ready to conquer
🌿 Recovery Mode – When you need gentle, minimal tasks
🆘 Overload SOS – When everything feels like too much
And 9 more modes that understand your brain’s natural rhythms

One size doesn’t fit all. Finally, a tool that gets that.

More Than Just Code

But Denly is more than features:

It’s my promise that technology can be kind.

I wanted to build something that respects your bad days as much as your good ones. Where “I couldn’t do anything today” is a valid input, not a failure.

People over metrics. Space, not fix. That’s the Denly philosophy. 💜

Core Principles

✅ No streaks – Your worth isn’t measured in consecutive days
✅ No guilt mechanics – No red badges, no shame
✅ Privacy-first – Hosted in Europe, GDPR compliant
✅ Built with ❤️ in Switzerland – By someone who actually uses it

Try It Out

Ready to try a productivity app that actually works with your brain?

👉 denly.app

Founding Member pricing is available for early supporters who believe in a kinder approach to productivity.

Have questions or want to share your experience? I’d love to hear from you – reach out through the contact form!