Amy Giddon shares why she created Daily Haloha, an app creating a judgment-free space for self-reflection and connection.

WHAT IS DAILY HALOHA’S ORIGIN STORY?

I never thought that I would be the founder of a tech startup. For many decades, I worked in consulting and financial services, but I eventually pivoted towards more mission-driven work. Daily Haloha’s origin story starts with an experience that touched me deeply.

I had a consulting project in Manhattan after the 2016 elections, and regardless of what side you might be on, there was a strong sense of division, polarization, and dehumanization in political discourse, and even around our family dinner tables. And it was weighing on me.

During that time, Matthew Chavez started a post-it note project called Subway Therapy where he invited people to express themselves on a sticky note. There were close to 50,000 stickies. I couldn’t help but notice how transformational it was for people who paused and participated. Everyone had an opportunity to add their contribution to this collective experience. When you looked at the wall, you read notes of hope and unity in the wake of the polarizing election.

In early 2017, I kept on thinking about that post-it wall and wondered how I could bottle up that magic. My takeaway was that the post-it note experience united anonymous strangers in a moment of shared humanity.

I thought - here’s this thing that works in the real world, but hasn’t been recreated virtually. I wanted to add to this feeling of being in an ephemeral moment together. As a consultant by trade, I started researching different ways to create feelings of togetherness, and I eventually landed on Daily Haloha.

WHAT IS DAILY HALOHA?

Our app asks a single question every day to anyone in the world. It’s an opportunity for a mindful moment in your day and a chance for everyone to learn from each other. Now more than ever, we’re aware of the depth of our interdependence during this pandemic. We are all part of this bigger human story.

To me, a Haloha is a chance to be yourself and express your thoughts honestly. It’s a space that’s anonymous, free of judgement, and free of status. Everybody’s welcome, and everyone’s voice is heard equally without basis, reactivity, or assumptions. In many ways, it’s the opposite of social media.

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE NAME?

The word “haloha” is a mashup of beautiful words. Hello, Allô, Hola, Aloha — They all use the same sounds. I wanted a word that reflects warmth and connection, and haloha felt right to me.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR NEW TECH STARTUP FOUNDERS?

Be really curious, have a lot of humility, acknowledge what you don’t know, network, and ask for help. It takes a village to raise a startup. And finally, be grounded in your why. I’ve experienced the highest of highs and lowest of lows in this part of my career. This happens when you are deeply connected to your why. You need to be driven by a deep sense of purpose and connection to the problem. It gives you the motivation to overcome any obstacles.