Kinnect; an ideal application for storing generational memories

One of the most important things in our life is to be collecting memories. We might have many that we would like to reminisce, however, at some point this can become a problem if we have nowhere to store them or have access to them.

When we talk about memories, one thinks of a family album full of photographs from other times that we review from time to time. Or maybe we turn to other formats like a DVD, a flash drive, or storage on the hard drive of our computer. Ultimately, there is access to the cloud.

These could be good elements to consider, although access to these files may not be immediate and an impediment to quickly sharing with family members.

Kinnect simplifies this function by helping people store memories privately and with unique access through invitation. In fact, through this way, spaces can be created to share photographs, videos, audio, and text with the whole family.

Although the application was launched this month, its creator, Omar Álvarez, would have wished to be able to launch it earlier when his grandfather, who suffered from Alzheimer's, was alive. He wanted to save his memories in some way just like with his best friend, who was going through a complex and fragile health situation, but those desires were key to the launch of Kinnect.

Kinnect was founded by Omar Álvarez in May 2023. He is an entrepreneur who has seen a need and wanted to bring it to reality. When it comes to his experience, we can say that he has worked with various telehealth brands, with a focus on mental health.

This is definitely something to take into account, as memories represent something that will affect every human being one way or another, and something that we must handle with utmost care, as expected in this type of applications.

Perhaps the term Kinnect may be difficult to understand, but in some way it suggests inclusion as something fundamental, so not only blood families will be able to store generational memories, but also relatives by blood.

One of the values it aims to uphold is free access to anyone considered part of the family, including friends. It is about reducing that feeling of not belonging and being part of a family; something very significant.

The application seems to be very intuitive, offering a series of questions to optimize preferences for use. When starting the application, it will ask about what objectives are desired to achieve, and in this aspect, we can find options such as capturing life lessons, preserving a family history, remembering loved ones, or simply sharing memories.

As an application, its style is quite similar to apps like Facebook or even Instagram, which I find to be a very good idea in terms of encountering something familiar. Its use does not seem complex at all, with functions like the storybook that allows us to organize digital albums based on various themes. It is also possible to store current chapters with the idea of visiting them in the future or having them viewed by future generations.

Guided Storytelling is another important function of the application, as it serves as a guide when one does not know how to continue. By using this function, the user will receive instructions and can interact with the application in a truly intuitive process. It is expected that this function will use AI in the future.

The application is currently available on iOS, though there are plans for a release in the coming months on Android-based systems. The focus is on the ease of use of this application, which is aimed at people of all ages, though the main point of importance will be that it is easy to use for older people.

It should be noted that while the application is free to use, there is also a paid version available for $70 dollars annually, and as a benefit of purchasing the membership, it is possible to unlock unlimited storybooks, unlimited photo uploads, videos, and unlimited audio, which is something to consider.

With access to this membership, the application can be used by up to 5 family members.

It seems that the startup has managed to attract significant investment, as Techstar has decided to finance Kinnect with a budget of $100,000. Additionally, other firms are taking it into consideration, such as the accelerator program of Slauson & Co.

Looking towards the future, Álvarez envisions creating in-person connections, which will be a crucial benefit for mental health and a sense of belonging, something we must preserve in the current times.