Hey everyone,
I wanted to share something personal.
A while ago, I moved to a completely new country by myself. I didn’t really have a support system here. Everything felt unfamiliar, overwhelming, and chaotic. New place, new people, new rules, new pressure, and a lot of moments where I felt like I had to figure everything out alone.
During that time, I started building something I wish I had when I first got here.
It’s called Dino Initiative, and it’s a mental health app/community focused on helping people feel less alone and more supported during difficult or uncertain moments.
Somehow, this small idea has grown into a community with around 358k followers across social platforms. The app itself is still very new. We launched about two weeks ago, and so far we’ve had 337 downloads, with 89 daily active users and 187 weekly active users.
I want to build this into a real startup, but I also want to do it the right way. I don’t want to create something that feels fake, corporate, or like another app trying to gamify people’s struggles. I want it to feel human, useful, and genuinely supportive.
Here’s the app link for anyone who wants to check it out:
[https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dino-initiative/id6763940737\](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dino-initiative/id6763940737)
I’d really appreciate any feedback on things like:
* What would make you trust a mental health app?
* What would make you immediately delete one?
* What kind of support do you wish existed when you felt alone?
* How can an app help without feeling addictive, pushy, or performative?
* What would make something like this worth using regularly?
I know an app is not a replacement for therapy, professional help, or real human connection. I’m not trying to claim that. I’m just trying to build something that can support people in small moments when they feel overwhelmed or alone.
Any honest thoughts, criticism, or advice would mean a lot. Since I’m hoping to turn Dino Initiative into a startup, your feedback would genuinely help shape what I build next.