Timeful

Timeful operated as an algorithm-based time management application, founded in March 2014 by a distinguished team with deep roots in academia and technology. The founders were Jacob Bank, a Stanford PhD candidate specializing in machine learning and optimization algorithms who served as CEO; Yoav Shoham, a Stanford Computer Science professor with a focus on AI and a history of successful startups sold to major tech companies; and Dan Ariely, a renowned Duke University professor of psychology and behavioral economics. The founders' backgrounds were central to the company's philosophy, combining Ariely's research on human irrationality and procrastination with Shoham's work on AI and Bank's expertise in data science to tackle the complexities of time management.

The company's core product was a free intelligent time manager for iOS that merged a user's calendar with their to-do lists and recurring habits. It aimed to help busy individuals schedule and complete tasks more effectively by using sophisticated algorithms and behavioral science principles. The app would analyze a user's schedule and past behaviors to suggest optimal times to schedule tasks and build good habits, such as exercising or reading. Unlike static calendars, Timeful's system was dynamic, learning from user interactions to provide personalized recommendations and nudge users toward their goals. It connected with existing calendars like Google Calendar and Microsoft Exchange to see a user's commitments and then intelligently slotted in to-dos and habits into available free time.

Timeful's business model was centered on providing the app for free, with a focus on user growth and technological development. The startup secured $6.8 million in funding from prominent investors including Khosla Ventures, Kleiner Perkins, and Ashton Kutcher's A-Grade Investments. The company's significant milestone was its acquisition by Google in May 2015 for an undisclosed amount, roughly a year after launching its app. Following the acquisition, the Timeful team was integrated into Google's productivity app division to apply its technology to products like Google Calendar and Inbox, aiming to make them smarter and more automated. While the standalone Timeful app was eventually discontinued, its core technology and concepts were absorbed into Google's ecosystem.

Keywords: time management, behavioral science, artificial intelligence, calendar app, productivity tool, task management, scheduling algorithm, mobile application, Google acquisition, habit formation