From its origins as a research project in Denmark to today's AI Co-Planner, Tiimo has always prioritized accessibility over efficiency. Here's how AI is helping us extend that philosophy to support users during their most challenging planning moments.
What if planning tools actually worked for your brain? That question became the philosophical foundation for everything Tiimo would eventually become. It didn't emerge from a sleek product pitch or venture-backed roadmap, but from something much more fundamental: genuine curiosity about why existing planning tools failed so spectacularly for neurodivergent people.
But what if someone finally designed planning tools specifically for people who get overwhelmed just thinking about where to start, those who need structure but crumble under rigid systems, who want to be organized but find traditional productivity approaches feel like trying to fit square pegs into round holes?
This transformative question first took shape in classrooms and kitchen tables scattered across Denmark, where co-founders Helene Nørlem and Melissa Würtz Azari were studying design and computer science while diving deep into how technology could genuinely support neurodivergent students navigating ADHD and executive functioning differences.
Their foundational work brought them into countless conversations with families who were being consistently let down by available tools, whether rigid analog planners that couldn't adapt or digital productivity apps designed for neurotypical brains operating at peak efficiency.
"We felt that there were no really good support tools. The ones that existed were analog, stigmatizing, and we wanted to create something that could support people with executive function challenges in a beautiful, non-stigmatizing way." — Helene, Co-founder and Co-CEO
From its earliest stages, Tiimo rejected traditional productivity models focused on optimization and efficiency. Instead, Helene and Melissa built something visually clear without being overwhelming, emotionally supportive without being condescending, and infinitely customizable without becoming confusing or hard to use.
What started as a design for teens with ADHD revealed a broader truth: when you build inclusively, you create something that works better for everyone. The user base naturally expanded across the neurodivergent spectrum to include Autistic people, those with mental health conditions, and different ADHD presentations, as well as people navigating chronic illness, burnout, trauma recovery, and more.
"We learned that all users are different. Wanting help with your executive function is many things. It's difficult to say it's only for the neurodivergent, or only for visual thinkers."
— Melissa, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer
Even as the app improved, users continued to report certain persistent challenges. Tasks still felt overwhelmingly large, prioritizing felt impossible when everything seemed equally urgent, and that initial moment of getting started remained as difficult as ever.
The team began thinking about extending their support philosophy into those difficult transition moments. Not to replace human relationships, but to step in during quiet moments when external support isn't available but internal resources feel depleted.
"We always wanted to make the product as personalized as possible because we know everybody is unique. The more we could tailor the product to the specific end user, the better."
— Helene
Until recently, making highly individualized, responsive planning support possible required either massive technical resources or expensive coaching that would be unaffordable for many in the neurodivergent community. But with AI technology becoming more accessible, those "someday maybe" ideas could finally become realistic development goals.
"We've always dreamed of Tiimo being this planning companion. Now we can build it."
— Helene
The AI Co-Planner represents a fundamental departure from typical AI assistants focused on efficiency and automation. Instead of taking over your day with confident authority, Tiimo's AI is built specifically to help you start tasks and serves as a bridge between overwhelming thoughts and the clarity needed to take one small step forward.
The interaction is deliberately simple: you can speak or type whatever scattered thoughts are crowding your mind, and Tiimo shapes them into something resembling a workable plan. It identifies tasks without making assumptions, suggests realistic time estimates while remaining flexible, and offers ways to prioritize without imposing external judgments.
When schedules inevitably change, the AI helps you adjust without judgment or guilt. The voice and tone were crafted through extensive testing, understanding that for neurodivergent users or those with trauma backgrounds, the wrong phrase can cause instant shutdown.
"It's not about being more productive. It's about getting through the day in a way that's good for you. You managed to do the things you set yourself up to, and if not, we'll help you reschedule without judgment."
— Melissa
One significant design decision is that the assistant isn't anonymous but explicitly called Tiimo, the same beloved character users already know. This familiar presence feels consistent with the supportive approach that's always characterized the brand, making the new capability feel approachable rather than introducing yet another digital entity to navigate.
Building this kind of safe, supportive AI means prioritizing both neuroinclusive design and robust privacy protections. Users share deeply personal information about their daily struggles, health conditions, and vulnerabilities, so maintaining their trust requires careful attention to data security and user control over their information.
The hope is that Tiimo can reduce the strain of relying on others for every small executive task, freeing up relationships to focus on connection and the support only humans can provide.
"It's not because we want to take the humans out of it, but the time with humans could be more quality time."
— Melissa
Tiimo's AI Co-Planner isn't an end goal but a foundational step toward assistive tools that consistently adapt to people's needs instead of demanding people adapt to rigid systems. This vision encompasses support that's available not just during good days, but especially during challenging periods when executive function is compromised or life circumstances change capacity and needs.
This future is built on trust rather than urgency, understanding rather than optimization, support rather than surveillance. The radical idea is that planning tools should make life feel more manageable, not add new sources of stress. That foundational philosophy has always been what Tiimo represents, and AI integration simply extends that mission to help even more people navigate daily challenges with greater ease and less shame.
From its origins as a research project in Denmark to today's AI Co-Planner, Tiimo has always prioritized accessibility over efficiency. Here's how AI is helping us extend that philosophy to support users during their most challenging planning moments.
What if planning tools actually worked for your brain? That question became the philosophical foundation for everything Tiimo would eventually become. It didn't emerge from a sleek product pitch or venture-backed roadmap, but from something much more fundamental: genuine curiosity about why existing planning tools failed so spectacularly for neurodivergent people.
But what if someone finally designed planning tools specifically for people who get overwhelmed just thinking about where to start, those who need structure but crumble under rigid systems, who want to be organized but find traditional productivity approaches feel like trying to fit square pegs into round holes?
This transformative question first took shape in classrooms and kitchen tables scattered across Denmark, where co-founders Helene Nørlem and Melissa Würtz Azari were studying design and computer science while diving deep into how technology could genuinely support neurodivergent students navigating ADHD and executive functioning differences.
Their foundational work brought them into countless conversations with families who were being consistently let down by available tools, whether rigid analog planners that couldn't adapt or digital productivity apps designed for neurotypical brains operating at peak efficiency.
"We felt that there were no really good support tools. The ones that existed were analog, stigmatizing, and we wanted to create something that could support people with executive function challenges in a beautiful, non-stigmatizing way." — Helene, Co-founder and Co-CEO
From its earliest stages, Tiimo rejected traditional productivity models focused on optimization and efficiency. Instead, Helene and Melissa built something visually clear without being overwhelming, emotionally supportive without being condescending, and infinitely customizable without becoming confusing or hard to use.
What started as a design for teens with ADHD revealed a broader truth: when you build inclusively, you create something that works better for everyone. The user base naturally expanded across the neurodivergent spectrum to include Autistic people, those with mental health conditions, and different ADHD presentations, as well as people navigating chronic illness, burnout, trauma recovery, and more.
"We learned that all users are different. Wanting help with your executive function is many things. It's difficult to say it's only for the neurodivergent, or only for visual thinkers."
— Melissa, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer
Even as the app improved, users continued to report certain persistent challenges. Tasks still felt overwhelmingly large, prioritizing felt impossible when everything seemed equally urgent, and that initial moment of getting started remained as difficult as ever.
The team began thinking about extending their support philosophy into those difficult transition moments. Not to replace human relationships, but to step in during quiet moments when external support isn't available but internal resources feel depleted.
"We always wanted to make the product as personalized as possible because we know everybody is unique. The more we could tailor the product to the specific end user, the better."
— Helene
Until recently, making highly individualized, responsive planning support possible required either massive technical resources or expensive coaching that would be unaffordable for many in the neurodivergent community. But with AI technology becoming more accessible, those "someday maybe" ideas could finally become realistic development goals.
"We've always dreamed of Tiimo being this planning companion. Now we can build it."
— Helene
The AI Co-Planner represents a fundamental departure from typical AI assistants focused on efficiency and automation. Instead of taking over your day with confident authority, Tiimo's AI is built specifically to help you start tasks and serves as a bridge between overwhelming thoughts and the clarity needed to take one small step forward.
The interaction is deliberately simple: you can speak or type whatever scattered thoughts are crowding your mind, and Tiimo shapes them into something resembling a workable plan. It identifies tasks without making assumptions, suggests realistic time estimates while remaining flexible, and offers ways to prioritize without imposing external judgments.
When schedules inevitably change, the AI helps you adjust without judgment or guilt. The voice and tone were crafted through extensive testing, understanding that for neurodivergent users or those with trauma backgrounds, the wrong phrase can cause instant shutdown.
"It's not about being more productive. It's about getting through the day in a way that's good for you. You managed to do the things you set yourself up to, and if not, we'll help you reschedule without judgment."
— Melissa
One significant design decision is that the assistant isn't anonymous but explicitly called Tiimo, the same beloved character users already know. This familiar presence feels consistent with the supportive approach that's always characterized the brand, making the new capability feel approachable rather than introducing yet another digital entity to navigate.
Building this kind of safe, supportive AI means prioritizing both neuroinclusive design and robust privacy protections. Users share deeply personal information about their daily struggles, health conditions, and vulnerabilities, so maintaining their trust requires careful attention to data security and user control over their information.
The hope is that Tiimo can reduce the strain of relying on others for every small executive task, freeing up relationships to focus on connection and the support only humans can provide.
"It's not because we want to take the humans out of it, but the time with humans could be more quality time."
— Melissa
Tiimo's AI Co-Planner isn't an end goal but a foundational step toward assistive tools that consistently adapt to people's needs instead of demanding people adapt to rigid systems. This vision encompasses support that's available not just during good days, but especially during challenging periods when executive function is compromised or life circumstances change capacity and needs.
This future is built on trust rather than urgency, understanding rather than optimization, support rather than surveillance. The radical idea is that planning tools should make life feel more manageable, not add new sources of stress. That foundational philosophy has always been what Tiimo represents, and AI integration simply extends that mission to help even more people navigate daily challenges with greater ease and less shame.
From its origins as a research project in Denmark to today's AI Co-Planner, Tiimo has always prioritized accessibility over efficiency. Here's how AI is helping us extend that philosophy to support users during their most challenging planning moments.
What if planning tools actually worked for your brain? That question became the philosophical foundation for everything Tiimo would eventually become. It didn't emerge from a sleek product pitch or venture-backed roadmap, but from something much more fundamental: genuine curiosity about why existing planning tools failed so spectacularly for neurodivergent people.
But what if someone finally designed planning tools specifically for people who get overwhelmed just thinking about where to start, those who need structure but crumble under rigid systems, who want to be organized but find traditional productivity approaches feel like trying to fit square pegs into round holes?
This transformative question first took shape in classrooms and kitchen tables scattered across Denmark, where co-founders Helene Nørlem and Melissa Würtz Azari were studying design and computer science while diving deep into how technology could genuinely support neurodivergent students navigating ADHD and executive functioning differences.
Their foundational work brought them into countless conversations with families who were being consistently let down by available tools, whether rigid analog planners that couldn't adapt or digital productivity apps designed for neurotypical brains operating at peak efficiency.
"We felt that there were no really good support tools. The ones that existed were analog, stigmatizing, and we wanted to create something that could support people with executive function challenges in a beautiful, non-stigmatizing way." — Helene, Co-founder and Co-CEO
From its earliest stages, Tiimo rejected traditional productivity models focused on optimization and efficiency. Instead, Helene and Melissa built something visually clear without being overwhelming, emotionally supportive without being condescending, and infinitely customizable without becoming confusing or hard to use.
What started as a design for teens with ADHD revealed a broader truth: when you build inclusively, you create something that works better for everyone. The user base naturally expanded across the neurodivergent spectrum to include Autistic people, those with mental health conditions, and different ADHD presentations, as well as people navigating chronic illness, burnout, trauma recovery, and more.
"We learned that all users are different. Wanting help with your executive function is many things. It's difficult to say it's only for the neurodivergent, or only for visual thinkers."
— Melissa, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer
Even as the app improved, users continued to report certain persistent challenges. Tasks still felt overwhelmingly large, prioritizing felt impossible when everything seemed equally urgent, and that initial moment of getting started remained as difficult as ever.
The team began thinking about extending their support philosophy into those difficult transition moments. Not to replace human relationships, but to step in during quiet moments when external support isn't available but internal resources feel depleted.
"We always wanted to make the product as personalized as possible because we know everybody is unique. The more we could tailor the product to the specific end user, the better."
— Helene
Until recently, making highly individualized, responsive planning support possible required either massive technical resources or expensive coaching that would be unaffordable for many in the neurodivergent community. But with AI technology becoming more accessible, those "someday maybe" ideas could finally become realistic development goals.
"We've always dreamed of Tiimo being this planning companion. Now we can build it."
— Helene
The AI Co-Planner represents a fundamental departure from typical AI assistants focused on efficiency and automation. Instead of taking over your day with confident authority, Tiimo's AI is built specifically to help you start tasks and serves as a bridge between overwhelming thoughts and the clarity needed to take one small step forward.
The interaction is deliberately simple: you can speak or type whatever scattered thoughts are crowding your mind, and Tiimo shapes them into something resembling a workable plan. It identifies tasks without making assumptions, suggests realistic time estimates while remaining flexible, and offers ways to prioritize without imposing external judgments.
When schedules inevitably change, the AI helps you adjust without judgment or guilt. The voice and tone were crafted through extensive testing, understanding that for neurodivergent users or those with trauma backgrounds, the wrong phrase can cause instant shutdown.
"It's not about being more productive. It's about getting through the day in a way that's good for you. You managed to do the things you set yourself up to, and if not, we'll help you reschedule without judgment."
— Melissa
One significant design decision is that the assistant isn't anonymous but explicitly called Tiimo, the same beloved character users already know. This familiar presence feels consistent with the supportive approach that's always characterized the brand, making the new capability feel approachable rather than introducing yet another digital entity to navigate.
Building this kind of safe, supportive AI means prioritizing both neuroinclusive design and robust privacy protections. Users share deeply personal information about their daily struggles, health conditions, and vulnerabilities, so maintaining their trust requires careful attention to data security and user control over their information.
The hope is that Tiimo can reduce the strain of relying on others for every small executive task, freeing up relationships to focus on connection and the support only humans can provide.
"It's not because we want to take the humans out of it, but the time with humans could be more quality time."
— Melissa
Tiimo's AI Co-Planner isn't an end goal but a foundational step toward assistive tools that consistently adapt to people's needs instead of demanding people adapt to rigid systems. This vision encompasses support that's available not just during good days, but especially during challenging periods when executive function is compromised or life circumstances change capacity and needs.
This future is built on trust rather than urgency, understanding rather than optimization, support rather than surveillance. The radical idea is that planning tools should make life feel more manageable, not add new sources of stress. That foundational philosophy has always been what Tiimo represents, and AI integration simply extends that mission to help even more people navigate daily challenges with greater ease and less shame.
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