The story behind cura
Apps like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube are engineered to keep you scrolling. They monetize your attention — the longer you stay, the more they earn. That's not a you problem. It's their business model.
Cura was born from a simple insight: a physical barrier beats a digital one. If ending a focus session requires you to physically walk to a Cura Station and tap your phone, you have to make a real choice. That moment of friction is what makes the difference.
Cura connects your phone with physical devices — Stations at libraries and universities, portable Blocks for your desk — so your commitment to focus is tangible, not just a toggle on a screen.
What drives us
Intentional
Every feature exists to put you back in control of your attention. Physical commitment gives your focus real structure behind it.
Empowering
Cura gives you the data to understand your habits — daily, monthly, yearly. The goal isn't dependence on the app. It's building the self-awareness and habits that last.
Built by Jacob
Cura was created by Jacob Haider, a student at ETH Zurich. The idea started with a realization: the apps he was trying to avoid were designed to pull him back in. He wanted something with real teeth — where focus meant a physical commitment, not just a button on a screen.
What started as a personal project grew into a mission: building the focus infrastructure he wished existed — for individuals, for libraries, for universities, for anyone who wants to take back their attention.
See what Cura can do
Explore the full feature set, or get a Cura Block and try it yourself.