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Silent Study Timer (Locked In)

For: Students preparing for high-stakes exams like MCAT, CFA, BAR

Buildability

The Problem

Students preparing for competitive exams need focused study environments but generic Pomodoro apps lack the social accountability and exam-specific features they need

The Solution

Gamified study timer simulating library environment with shared silent study rooms, avatars showing who's active, streaks, and leaderboards for hours studied

Why Now?

Remote studying increased post-COVID, gamification proven effective for habits, competitive exam market growing

Build MVP in 7 Days

Day 1

Basic study timer with library ambient sounds

Day 2

Shared room with avatar presence indicators

Day 3

Daily streak tracking

Day 4

Simple leaderboard for study hours

How to Validate

Survey students in MCAT/CFA Facebook groups about study habits
Partner with existing study-with-me YouTube channels for validation
Check engagement on study-related Discord servers

Revenue Model

$29/year premium for advanced analytics, private study rooms, detailed progress tracking

Competitive Moat

Network effects from study groups, behavioral data improves recommendations

Risks to Consider

Students have limited budgets compared to working professionalsGamification might become distracting rather than motivatingSeasonal usage patterns during exam periods