Building a new personal device for notetaking. A little peek into my first startup journey.
Ongoing
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The Full Design Process 🔒👨🏻💻
If you want to see the nitty gritty of research and design explorations that went into crafting this experience, reach out to me!
I normally walk people through this in an interview environment or in a coffee chat.
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GENESIS
Calendars
I have been taking notes in my calendar for the last 4 years. I did it because I liked the idea of object permanence a calendar time-grid provides to store my notes in it. It ultimately became a database for my thoughts and more.
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So I indexed on my personal needs/insights and built a V1 demo
So I indexed on my personal needs/insights and built a V1 demo
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SHOW & TELL
Then, I went to multiple hackathons to make progress and share demos
This led me to various rabit holes about the technical depth of this idea and various opportunities that exist within the space
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EXPLORING HARDWARE
What if note-taking had it's own hardware?
A design friend who I brainstormed with floated the idea "what if there was a hardware device (keychain, tamagotchi, etc.) that made input 3x faster and recall 5x better with a beautiful interface?". I was like this is it, I'm going to make this and started exploring concepts.
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Next, I went to more hackathons and brought on friends experienced with firmware and robotics to help with the next step to actualize this idea.
IT'S TIME TO BUILD (HARDWARE)
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It worked! So we decided to build it further into a product that others can use
It worked! So we decided to build it further into a product that others can use
Starting with sketches, requirements and then 3D printing ideas. I learned a lot of new things in this phase. I also had some novel ideas about different modes of input.
Starting with sketches, requirements and then 3D printing ideas. I learned a lot of new things in this phase. I also had some novel ideas about different modes of input.
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IT'S TIME TO BUILD (SOFTWARE)
Software by it's nature has lesser constraints
Software by it's nature has lesser constraints
I wanted to think about new ways of notetaking and thought exploration, I explored a range of novel interfaces to what seems like the best instrument for thoughts.
I wanted to think about new ways of notetaking and thought exploration, I explored a range of novel interfaces to what seems like the best instrument for thoughts.
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MOMENTUM, PERSISTANCE & DETERMINATION
The next 3 months were pure grind, and in July we won buildspace!
This period was full of ups and downs to say the least.
This period was full of ups and downs to say the least.
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What's Next?
I took some time to travel after graduation and reflect on what we'd made. Now after coming back, I'm figuring out what's next for building a personal device. There's a ton that I'm thinking through - from notification systems, haptics, everyday use scenarios to name a few.
Reach out if you want to learn more!
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Shahvir Sarkary
© 2025
Shahvir Sarkary
© 2025
GENESIS
Calendars
I have been taking notes in my calendar for the last 4 years. I did it because I liked the idea of object permanence a calendar time-grid provides to store my notes in it. It ultimately became a database for my thoughts and more.
IT'S TIME TO BUILD (HARDWARE)
Calendars
I have been taking notes in my calendar for the last 4 years. I did it because I liked the idea of object permanence a calendar time-grid provides to store my notes in it. It ultimately became a database for my thoughts and more.
.
.
.
So I indexed on my personal needs/insights and built a V1 demo
.
.
SHOW & TELL
Then, I went to multiple hackathons to make progress and share demos
This led me to various rabit holes about the technical depth of this idea and various opportunities that exist within the space
.
.
.
.
EXPLORING HARDWARE
What if note-taking had it's own hardware?
A design friend who I brainstormed with floated the idea "what if there was a hardware device (keychain, tamagotchi, etc.) that made input 3x faster and recall 5x better with a beautiful interface?". I was like this is it, I'm going to make this and started exploring concepts.
.
.
.
.
Next, I went to more hackathons and brought on friends experienced with firmware and robotics to help with the next step to actualize this idea.