The Story of Rebuilding socra AI from Scratch

When @mike and I first launched socra AI in March 2023, we had a vision of helping people achieve th

When @mike and I [first launched](https://youtu.be/EsIk-b06YS8) socra AI in March 2023, we had a vision of helping people achieve their goals with the power of AI. In less than a year, our community grew to over 60,000 users. It was an exciting ride, but as we paid attention to our users' needs, we realized that we hadn't quite hit the mark. We created the ["Journeys" feature](https://youtu.be/e6-UJ1pM9kA) – an AI planner that guided people step-by-step towards their goals. People started using it and sharing their experiences with us, which was a high point for us. However, many people faced challenges along the way and struggled to stay motivated and complete their plans. We [redesigned Journeys](https://youtu.be/kYitboKYKo8) four times in eight months, experimenting with various features, but we couldn't solve the critical problem: users often felt overwhelmed by long-term plans with numerous tasks and would end up not taking action. That's when we had our lightbulb moment: what if we made goal pursuit feel fun, like a game? We created the ["Goals"](https://youtu.be/hCsYHIN_H4U), a gamified feature where the AI suggested one action at a time and adapted based on the user's progress and results. Unlike Journeys, Goals didn't require people to plan, addressing the issue of follow-through with their plans. We were convinced that this was it – the feature that would finally crack the code and help people achieve their goals like never before. However, when we launched "Goals," something unexpected happened. While some users enjoyed the gamified approach, most actually preferred our original "Journeys" feature. It was a humbling realization, but one that taught us an important lesson: sometimes, the solution you think is perfect might not be what people actually need or want. That's when reality hit us. People often knew what they had to do; they just wanted the AI to do it for them instead of telling them what to do. They wanted to be in control of their decisions and maintain a sense of autonomy. Users preferred a collaborative approach, where the AI would work alongside them, developing a better understanding of their specific context, challenges, and goals. This understanding changed everything about how we thought about using AI to achieve goals. It showed us a new direction, pointing us towards a different idea of what socra could become. We needed to create AI agents that could be true partners in the journey, taking on the tasks and challenges that we struggled with, and empowering us to focus on making progress. If we wanted to truly change the way people achieve their goals, we had to start all over again, rebuilding socra AI from scratch. The only thing that would remain was our mission: helping people make significant progress towards their goals. During the ten long months of rebuilding, it felt like we were making no progress at all. From the outside looking in, it seemed like we had gone radio silent. No new features, no updates, no communication. Behind the scenes, of course, we were working harder than ever. We knew that socra wasn't good enough – not by a long shot. And as we continued to build socra v1.0, it started to become more and more apparent to us. Now we have finally emerged with socra v1.0. Using socra 1.0 ourselves makes us feel like all the hard work was worth it. Because we haven't just built a better version of our platform – we have built something new and truly special. Something that has unlimited potential to continue to improve at helping people achieve their wildest dreams, and that we are extremely proud of. Rebuilding socra AI from scratch was a rollercoaster ride, full of ups and downs. It taught us that real progress means taking a chance, being willing to try the impossible, and aiming for something bigger than ourselves. So, to all of you who stuck with us through those long months of silence, who believed in our vision even when there was no evidence of progress: thank you. Your support and patience mean the world to us, and we can't wait to show you what socra v1.0 can really do. And to anyone out there who's chasing a big, audacious goal: don't be afraid to take the leap. The journey will be harder than you ever imagined, but the person you will become when you reach your destination will make it all worthwhile. Just keep pushing forward, one day at a time, and never lose sight of the dream that drives you. With socra, we're building more than just a platform. We're building a community of dreamers, doers, and world-changers. And we couldn't be more excited to see where this journey takes us next.

### The Story of Rebuilding socra AI from Scratch In March 2023, Eduarda Ferreira and @mike launched socra AI with a mission to empower users to achieve their goals through innovative AI features. The platform quickly garnered a community of over 60,000 users, but as they sought to enhance user experience, it became clear that they needed to rethink their approach. After introducing the "Journeys" feature, an AI planner designed to guide users step-by-step, feedback revealed that many users struggled with motivation and felt overwhelmed by extensive plans. Despite four redesigns over eight months, the core issue persisted: users needed a more manageable way to pursue their goals. This led to a breakthrough idea: gamification. They developed the "Goals" feature, which simplified the process by suggesting single actions based on user progress. However, the launch revealed that most users preferred the original "Journeys," highlighting a need for collaboration rather than mere direction from the AI. Realizing users wanted autonomy in their decision-making, Eduarda and @mike pivoted their strategy to create AI agents that could partner with users, taking on tasks and personalizing support based on individual needs. This insight prompted the complete rebuilding of socra AI. The rebuilding phase was challenging, with ten months of silence to the outside world as the team worked diligently on socra v1.0. They emerged with a platform that not only improved upon previous versions but also promised limitless potential for community growth and user motivation. As they prepare to unveil socra v1.0, Eduarda and @mike express gratitude to their loyal users who supported them through the journey. They encourage everyone chasing ambitious goals to embrace the challenges ahead, reinforcing that the journey of rebuilding socra AI has been about more than just development; it’s about fostering a vibrant community of dreamers and doers. This story of collaboration, resilience, and commitment to goal achievement embodies the essence of socra AI’s evolution, setting the stage for an exciting future.

By Eduarda Ferreira