Note-taking apps are designed to enhance efficiency and productivity. While many of these apps focus on quickly capturing thoughts and organizing them, Napkin stands out by prioritizing mindfulness, serving as a companion to your journaling practice.
Founded by David Felsmann and Fabian Wittel, who previously worked at BMW’s group innovation wing, Napkin began development in 2022. Initially, the app was centered on productivity and idea outlining, but it evolved to cater to users seeking a mindfulness tool for reflection.
The company shifted focus to mindfulness with the development of its iOS app, maintaining the desktop version for existing users. Positioned in the health and fitness category, Napkin distinguishes itself with a mindfulness-driven approach.
Felsmann emphasized, “We help users capture transformative ideas that affect their state of mind, such as insights that shift perspectives or provide motivation for personal growth – integrating these into a mindfulness routine with Napkin.”
Napkin allows users to input ideas, including book quotes captured through the camera, which are scanned to text. The app also suggests initial ideas for sessions and uses AI-generated tags for organization, facilitating easy retrieval from the home screen.
Users have the option to archive ideas to declutter their view. While Napkin supports multiple languages, it currently performs best with English content.
The app’s founders observed that many users engage with Napkin for morning self-reflection as an alternative to social media. Built on a Sense of Coherence model, Napkin provides a framework for building a comprehensive mental model of the world to foster inner balance.
Available on the App Store at $6 per month or $50 per year, Napkin offers a seven-day free trial for users to explore its features.
Napkin prioritizes a seamless user experience by avoiding intrusive notifications, aiming to be a quiet yet valuable tool for personal growth. The app perceives itself as a supplement to journaling practices, with potential integrations with popular journal apps and Amazon Kindle in the pipeline.
Having received investments totaling approximately $150,000 through convertible loan agreements, Napkin aims for sustainability with over 10,000 subscribers. With around 4,000 paid users presently, the company plans to consider expansion into other platforms once the subscriber target is reached.
