Wallminder
Executive Summary
Vision Statement
To transform how people with ADHD and similar challenges manage daily tasks, by making reminders impossible to ignore and effortless to clear—turning every phone unlock into a moment of focus and action.
Problem Summary
People with ADHD struggle with remembering and acting on important tasks due to executive dysfunction. Traditional reminder apps often fail to break through the clutter of notifications and daily distractions, leading to ignored reminders, forgotten subscriptions, and a persistent sense of disorganization. The core frustration is not just forgetting, but the lack of a highly visible, persistent, and non-intrusive way to keep critical tasks top-of-mind.
Proposed Solution
Wallminder is a mobile app that allows users to set a reminder by entering a task, which then temporarily replaces their phone’s wallpaper with that reminder in large, bold text. The reminder remains as the wallpaper—impossible to ignore—until the user marks it as complete, at which point the original wallpaper is restored. This solution leverages the high-frequency interaction users have with their phones, ensuring the reminder is always visible without adding to notification overload.
Market Analysis
Target Audience
Primary users: Adults with ADHD who use smartphones daily and have tried—and struggled with—traditional reminder apps. Secondary users: Anyone who needs a highly visible, persistent reminder system, including those with memory impairments, busy professionals, and students. Key traits: Tech-savvy, values simplicity, seeks non-intrusive solutions, and is willing to try new productivity tools.
Niche Validation
The original Reddit post and its 96 comments demonstrate a clear, recurring frustration: existing reminder apps are easily ignored or forgotten, and users crave a solution that is always visible without being intrusive. The top-voted comments and replies reveal creative workarounds (e.g., sticky notes on phones, widget-based reminders), but no existing app directly addresses the core need for a persistent, visual reminder that leverages the phone’s wallpaper. This suggests a validated, underserved niche within ADHD productivity tools.
Google Trends Keywords
Market Size Estimation
English-speaking, tech-engaged adults with ADHD: Focusing on North America, Europe, and Australia, the SAM is likely 10–20 million, based on ADHD prevalence and smartphone penetration.
Early adopters in ADHD online communities: Initial traction can be found in subreddits like r/ADHD (millions of members), ADHD-focused social media groups, and productivity app review sites. A realistic SOM for Year 1 is 50,000–100,000 engaged users.
Global smartphone users with ADHD: Estimates suggest 4–5% of adults have ADHD, with over 6 billion smartphone users worldwide—implying a TAM of ~240–300 million potential users. However, actual addressable users are those actively seeking digital solutions for ADHD, likely in the tens of millions globally.
Competitive Landscape
Current solutions for ADHD task management include apps like Minimal (simple notes), Email Me (quick email reminders), NotePlan (notes + calendar), and HabitKit (habit tracking)[1]. However, none offer a persistent, visual reminder via wallpaper. Some users employ manual hacks (e.g., changing wallpapers manually, sticky notes), but these lack automation and integration. The closest competitor in spirit is the native iOS Reminders app, which can show tasks on the lock screen, but not as a full-screen, always-visible wallpaper[1]. The proposed solution is genuinely novel in its approach to persistent visibility.
Product Requirements
User Stories
As a user with ADHD, I want to set a reminder that changes my phone’s wallpaper to display the task in large text, so I see it every time I use my phone.
As a user, I want to mark the reminder as done with one tap, so my original wallpaper is restored automatically.
As a user, I want to customize the font, color, and background of the reminder wallpaper, so it stands out and matches my preferences.
As a user, I want to schedule reminders for specific times or locations, so I’m prompted at the right moment.
As a user, I want to see a history of completed reminders, so I can track my progress and feel a sense of accomplishment.
MVP Feature Set
Set a reminder that temporarily changes the phone’s wallpaper to display the task in large, bold text.
One-tap completion to restore the original wallpaper.
Basic customization options (font size, color, background).
Reminder history/log.
Simple onboarding and permissions setup.
Non-Functional Requirements
Performance: Wallpaper changes must be near-instantaneous and reliable.
Privacy: No data leaves the device unless explicitly opted in for cloud sync.
Accessibility: High-contrast text and support for screen readers.
Battery efficiency: Minimal impact on device battery life.
Platform compliance: Adherence to Apple App Store and Google Play Store guidelines, especially around wallpaper permissions.
Key Performance Indicators
Daily active users (DAU) and retention rate (especially % returning after first week).
Reminder completion rate (tasks marked done vs. set).
Conversion to paid plans (freemium to premium).
User satisfaction (app store ratings, qualitative feedback in ADHD communities).
Organic growth (shares, referrals, mentions in ADHD forums and social media).
Go-to-Market Strategy
Core Marketing Message
Never miss what matters. Wallminder cuts through the noise of notifications and forgotten to-dos by putting your reminder front and center—right on your phone’s wallpaper. See it every time you unlock your phone. Mark it done with a tap. Get back to your life.
Initial Launch Channels
- Reddit communities: Launch with a detailed post and demo video in r/ADHD and related subreddits, leveraging the existing engagement and frustration expressed in the source thread.
- Product Hunt: Highlight the novelty of the solution to attract early adopters and tech-savvy productivity enthusiasts.
- ADHD influencers: Partner with ADHD coaches, YouTubers, and Instagram/TikTok creators who focus on productivity and mental health to demo the app and share testimonials.
Strategic Metrics
Problem Urgency
High
Solution Complexity
Medium
Defensibility Moat
First-mover advantage: Being the first to market with a wallpaper-based reminder system for ADHD creates brand recognition and user loyalty. Community engagement: Deep integration with ADHD online communities can drive organic growth and defensibility. Technical moat: While the core functionality is straightforward, seamless wallpaper integration (especially on iOS) requires careful handling of permissions and user experience, creating a modest technical barrier. Data network effects: As users create and share reminder templates, a library of user-generated content could emerge, enhancing stickiness.
Source Post Metrics
Business Strategy
Monetization Strategy
Freemium model: Basic functionality (single active reminder, limited customization) is free. Premium features (multiple reminders, advanced scheduling, integrations, custom fonts/colors) are available via subscription ($3.99/month or $29.99/year) or a one-time lifetime purchase ($49.99). Avoid reliance on forgettable subscriptions by emphasizing lifetime options and clear in-app reminders about active subscriptions.
Financial Projections
Assuming 1% conversion to paid plans among 100,000 active users, with 60% choosing monthly and 40% annual, MRR could reach ~$5,000–$10,000 in Year 1. Lifetime purchases could add significant one-time revenue. Upsell opportunities include integrations with calendars, task managers, and mental health platforms.
Tech Stack
Node.js with Express for a lightweight, scalable backend API. Consider Firebase for rapid prototyping, authentication, and real-time features if needed.
SQLite for local storage on mobile devices (to minimize latency and ensure offline functionality). For cloud sync and user accounts, use PostgreSQL for relational data integrity.
React Native for cross-platform mobile development, ensuring a single codebase for iOS and Android with native performance and access to device APIs. For the demo site and landing page, use Next.js for fast, SEO-friendly static generation.
Device-specific APIs for wallpaper management (e.g., iOS Shortcuts, Android WallpaperManager). Stripe for payments. OneSignal or Firebase Cloud Messaging for push notifications. Mixpanel or Amplitude for analytics.
Risk Assessment
Identified Risks
Platform restrictions: iOS and Android have strict limits on wallpaper automation, which may require workarounds or limit functionality. User habituation: Users may become desensitized to the wallpaper reminder over time, reducing effectiveness. Monetization challenges: Users with ADHD are often sensitive to subscriptions and may churn if not reminded effectively.
Mitigation Strategy
Technical: Invest in deep platform research and leverage community forums for creative solutions to wallpaper automation. Product: Introduce variability (e.g., randomizing reminder appearance, gamification) to maintain novelty. Business: Offer clear, non-intrusive reminders about subscriptions and emphasize lifetime purchase options.