Show HN: I built a privacy-first period tracker but it seems nobody cares
10 pointsby ebenezerdon8 days ago3 comments
  • vpianykh8 days ago
    Here POV of the man and engineer:

    * Design looks amazing!

    * Technically it's not an app. It's a web page. It gives me a an insecurity feeling that my data will be lost on a refresh.

    POV of the guy who is building "privacy-first" app: Feels like you fell in love with your solution. Ask your wife to talk to her friends if they care about privacy? Watch a first time user uses your app.

    IMHO privacy is a real concern for a fringe minority of the users. You and me are among those. What you just did - is verified that Mr. Market does not care.

    When I asked my wife about privacy, she was like "what???".

    Couple books that helped shape my view on this: "Fall in love with a problem, not a solution" and "Mom's Test".

    • ebenezerdon7 days ago
      100% agree. It’s less "product-market fit" and more "husband-wife fit." Wasn’t trying to build a startup, just trying to fix something that felt broken for someone I love. And since it’s free, Faye doesn't need mass adoption. It just needs to exist for that one person who goes, "hold on...my health data ended up where?"

      Or for when the next data breach hits and people start searching for local-only options.

    • 7 days ago
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    • ebenezerdon7 days ago
      Oh, and about the app vs web page comment, I get you. However, it's a progressive web app and can be installed. Works offline too. If you check Faye, you'll notice an install button at the top right.
  • finding_nemo557 days ago
    this is great. just needs different positioning/marketing i think to get the word out. the ui is better than apple health's period tracker, and if you're able to provide useful insights that would be a game changer. check out https://flo.health/flo-premium
    • ebenezerdon7 days ago
      Thanks, that means a lot. On the insights side, Faye does give useful cycle predictions and analysis from logged data, and they're all generated offline.

      There’s also an optional AI insights feature (using OpenAI API), but only if someone chooses to use it.

      Here's the insights page: https://faye.health/insights

      I explained more in the privacy policy too: https://faye.health/privacy-policy

      • neighborgoose7 days ago
        Replying to +1 the marketing / positioning comment here. I absolutely think there’s a market for this, especially considering the latest attacks on repro rights. Pitching this to select reporters and linking it to something newsworthy and relevant (maybe the 23 and Me data debacle, or repro policy concerns) might improve your user count. Even replying to high performing, relevant Reddit posts might earn you a few more users.

        As someone with a period and concerns about data privacy, I’m now using Faye and will tell my friends. Thank you for building this.

        • ebenezerdon6 days ago
          Thank you. I appreciate this and will try what you've mentioned. If you have the time, please check out Faye's privacy policy and let me know if it's clear enough: https://faye.health/privacy-policy

          My goal is to make it very transparent and easy to understand.

  • Rayid8 days ago
    Bro add a link somewhere