We’re excited to announce our investment in BePresent, a B2C app tackling one of the biggest challenges of our time—smartphone addiction. With over 50% of Americans struggling with phone dependency and screen time reaching alarming levels, BePresent offers a unique, engaging solution that helps users build a healthier relationship with their devices through social gamification.
Here’s why we believe BePresent is a category-defining player in the digital health space and why we decided to invest.
1. A Massive and Growing Market Opportunity
Smartphone addiction is a $2.28 billion market opportunity in the U.S. alone, with 81.6 million Gen Z and young millennials struggling with excessive phone usage. The broader digital health and wellness industry is valued at $335 billion and projected to grow to $1.1 trillion by 2028, reflecting a 22% CAGR.
As technology and social media algorithms become more addictive, the demand for solutions like BePresent will continue to surge. Unlike other apps that focus solely on “focus modes” or parental controls—many of which have faced regulatory challenges—BePresent takes a holistic, user-centric approach that resonates deeply with its target audience.
2. Exceptional User Experience and Gamification
At Boost, we believe that user experience (UX) is fundamental in building a moat in a market where technological development becomes more accessible every time, and BePresent stands out in this regard. The app leverages social features and gamification to make reducing screen time fun and rewarding. Instead of simply blocking access to apps, BePresent helps users develop sustainable digital habits by turning the experience into an engaging, community-driven journey.
The focus on UX-driven solutions aligns perfectly with our investment thesis: Great UX is a critical differentiator in today’s competitive market. BePresent’s ability to create a “sticky” experience through innovative mechanics and social motivation sets it apart from competitors who lack a comprehensive, engaging approach.
3. A Scrappy, High-Performing Team
BePresent is led by Jack and Charles Winston, two Gen Z brothers who personally experienced the problem of smartphone addiction and took the bold step to quit their jobs to solve it. Jack’s background in analytics at DraftKings and Charles’ experience as a software engineer at Google have enabled them to build and monetize a polished product with very little capital.
Their ability to scale rapidly with limited resources is a testament to their execution capabilities.
Their scrappy, data-driven approach, combined with deep insights into behavioral design and social dynamics, makes them well-positioned to scale BePresent into a global category leader.
BePresent is still in its early stages, but the traction they’ve gained with minimal resources, their thoughtful approach to tackling a growing problem, and their focus on exceptional user experience make us confident in their potential.
We’re thrilled to be backing BePresent on their journey to help millions reclaim their time and focus in a world dominated by screens.
To learn more about BePresent, visit: www.bepresentapp.com