About Us

Why Modo

A year ago, on a Sunday evening, I opened Instagram "by accident" for what felt like the fiftieth time, just to chat with my friend. I hadn't made a conscious decision – my hand just did it.

I tried apps with limits. The "Focus" mode, or I put my phone in a drawer. But every one of these solutions was either too easy to ignore (you quickly click "no limit today") or too radical (phone in the next room, but then I might miss an important call).

What I was missing: an object. Something tangible. An honest, small hurdle standing between me and my reflex – but a friendly one. Not a punisher, but a ritual.

What Modo is

Modo is exactly that object. A piece of walnut wood with an NFC tag inside. You place it where you work. When you want to be focused, you tap your phone on it. The app blocks what you yourself have defined as distracting. When the time is up, or if you really need to, you can unlock it at any time.

That's the whole idea. No gamification. No points. No account. Modo only does something when you want it to.

What Modo is not

Modo is not an "anti-phone" manifesto. I love my phone. I believe that the tools we have built are fantastic – if we decide when to use them, and not the other way around.

Modo does not track you. Modo does not judge you. Modo does not send your data anywhere. There is no server, no cloud, no membership. What you do stays between you and your phone.

Made in Germany

Modo is produced in small batches in Southern Germany. The wood comes from FSC-certified sources. The NFC tags are produced in Germany. The packaging is recyclable – no plastic.

If you have any questions, feel free to write to me directly: hallo@modo.shop.