About

We built the app
we needed.

404 Collective started as a personal project. It became a movement. Here's why.

You didn't lose your time. It was harvested. Every app, every feed, every infinite scroll was engineered by teams of brilliant people whose only goal was to keep you staring.

We believe attention is the most precious thing you have. It's the canvas on which you paint your life. And for too long, someone else has been holding the brush.

The 404 Collectiveis different. We don't track you. We don't show you ads. We don't optimize your engagement. We optimize your freedom.

Architecture

Five pillars of recovery

Every layer of 404 is built on evidence — not intuition. Here's the framework.

01Basis

Analysis & Pattern Detection

Nutzungsauswertung, Trigger-Erkennung und Muster-Identifikation. The data foundation for every other layer. We don't guess what triggers you — we map it.

02Acut

AI Coach — Interrupt the Loop

Unterbricht den Habit-Loop im Moment des Scroll-Impulses. Mechanismus: Wendy Wood / Charles Duhigg. Andere Apps kommen zu spät. 404 interveniert, bevor the scroll begins.

03Struktur

CBT Learning Path

12-CBT-Pfad: Stimulus-Kontrolle + kognitive Umstrukturierung. The only evidence-based approach for behavioral addictions. (Cochrane Review 2023)

04Sozial

Peer Pods

Online & Offline Peer-Pods. Soziale Verbindlichkeit ist stärkster Einzelprädiktor für Recovery-Erfolg. (Kelly et al., Addiction 2020)

05Klinisch

Professional Therapy

Reduziert die Hemmschwelle vom Erkennen zum Handeln — der häufigste Drop-Off-Punkt heute. Wartezeit und Stigma als Barrieren werden eliminiert.

Optional tier — powered by licensed therapists

Principles

What we stand on

01Privacy-first by default

Your data stays yours

We collect zero data. Your focus sessions, your quests, your streaks — they stay on your device. End of story.

02Digital minimalism over maximalism

Less is more

We don't add features to distract you. Every feature exists to help you live offline. Nothing more.

03Community over content

People, not algorithms

Real connections beat real engagement. We build the Collective to connect you with real people, not algorithms.

The Team

The humans behind 404

Oliver

Co-Founder

The one who realized they'd spent 12 hours scrolling on a school night. The spark behind everything.

Lasse

Co-Founder

Structuring the evidence-based approach. Bridging the gap between research and real-world behavior.

Marlon

Co-Founder

Designing the interface that feels like a deep breath. Making complexity feel simple.

Elena

Co-Founder

Building the therapist collaboration layer. Connecting clinical evidence with everyday recovery.

Merle

Co-Founder

Growing the Collective from within. Making sure no one has to do this alone.