Closeminds: An iOS app that connects similar minds

I never imagined that the curiosity that pushed me toward books would also help my own ideas converge. I remember I used to jot them down on my phone while commuting to uni. They lived as isolated notes on my phone, small texts with no way to speak to the others.

Only years later did I realize some of them were part of something bigger. I started revisiting them, shaping them, and letting them interact. And suddenly, I found myself with many long form essays. In a way, I became their bridge, the connector they needed to finally met and evolved.

It fascinating me that we aren't so different from those notes. We also carry ideas, questions, and dreams that could grow if they found the right people. But unlike notes, we try to be our own connector, though only up to a point. Our time, geography, and resources limit how far out ideas can travel.

Even if tens of thousands of people in the world resonate with one of our thoughts, what are the chances of ever meeting them? Even if that number dropped to thirty, relying on chance still feels wildly inefficient. To unlock those connections, we'd need something more powerful than serendipity alone.

I enjoy listening to people and having conversations that go deeper. It feels natural for me to give my full attention to someones's thoughts. The more diverse their backgrounds and contexts, the more they expand my own thinking. Their stories, fears, theories, opinions, desires, and projects feel like different ports, each one opening a new way to understand how their mind works.

I love humanity and its diversity. I've met people from many cultures, and it's bittersweet to think about all the others we may never cross paths with, people who might share our hopes, visions, or ideas. Some of them could have become collaborators or partners, or simply companions of thoughts.

That's why serendipity feels so magical. A long conversation with a stranger on a train or plane can suddenly shift the direction of something you’ve been thinking about for months.

But we shouldn’t rely on chance alone. With the technologies we have today, we can make these encounters far more common.

I often wonder where we could go, individually and collectively, if connecting with the right people weren’t left to chance. What new ideas or discoveries might emerge from bringing close minds together?

Demo

What’s next

These days, I spend most of my time reading, writing, thinking, researching, and building. I'm still an engineer, which is why I built this prototype for myself first. I want to grow as a thinker and a writer.

This project is meant for people who feel the same pull: curious minds who want to explore new intellectual territories and connect with others who think in similar ways. The intention matters more than the medium, and this app is just one expression of it. I’ll keep searching for more ways to make these connections possible.