Who are you and what do you do?
I'm Negar Yaghoobi, founder and CEO of eJOYcation. I’ve always been fascinated by the intersection of technology and the human mind. In 2012, I started RangiRangi, an entertaining wellness platform for youth that grew to over 700k paid users and received several awards for our products.
After exiting RangiRangi, I launched Colorful Zone in 2018. We created Joyi, a clinical-based app for subclinical anxiety. My second startup evolved into a clinical research project in 2024, focusing on a Digital Vitamin for Subclinical Anxiety. Now, I’m a product engagement consultant, helping to create mental health tools that really work. I also love writing stories for children to inspire and educate them. I was born and spent my childhood in Iran, and my adulthood has been spent in France and Canada.
What did it take/how did you get started?
I am building AstroMind! It’s a blend of self-discovery adventure and daily cosmic inspiration. With quick, fun quizzes and personalized horoscopes, AstroMind makes getting to know yourself both easy and enjoyable. It’s a little bit of magic in your daily routine, designed to help you explore who you are while having a good time.
The idea for this app came from realizing that we can add mental health benefits to entertaining solutions instead of sticking with the boring approaches to mental health education we have now. Traditional methods aren’t engaging and fun, but horoscopes are enjoyable! So why not combine that fun with something that benefits our well-being?
What does the future look like for you and your business?
I’ll launch several mini-startups like AstroMind, developing fun and engaging mental health tools with an Indie Hacker spirit. In the meantime, I’ll work as a product engagement consultant for a few mental health education companies that I’m passionate about. Alongside this, I’ll write essays on engaging mental health education and children's books.
What drives / motivates you on a daily basis?
I love building things that people enjoy. I also love learning. I believe that combining these two is my passion.
What advice would you give someone interested in doing what you do?
Do you want to be rich, famous, or interesting? Society’s traditional definitions of success often emphasize money and fame. Building an interesting life, I think, takes a different path. It might involve starting small, exploring new things, and not waiting to have fun as the final goal. Enjoy what you do! I’m trying this approach to see if it works. If it doesn’t, I’ll try something else.
What has been the hardest part of your business journey?
It's important to find the right people to do it with or to support you!
How have you managed burnout thus far?
Well... I don't think I can manage it! I experience it sometimes—sometimes I feel like nothing is positive and things don't work out. During those times, at least I know that what I'm feeling isn't reality, and I need to rest.
What are a few resources that you'd recommend?
My suggestion is to listen to a variety of podcasts on different topics! I love Malcolm Gladwell’s podcasts and others that tell interesting stories. I only have one subscription, but it’s really good: Blinkist.
The STATS
List the founders
Negar Yaghoobi
How many hours a week do you work on this hustle?
15-20
# of Employees?
One full time and one student
When did you start?
~September, 2024
How much did it cost to launch?
~$4000
What were your funding methods and ballpark amount raised?
My savings
Annual revenue?
Pre-revenue
Projected revenue?
$10K MMR after 6 months
What's the #1 thing you need right now?
Visibility! If people find my app interesting, they'll talk about it and write about it.