OpenAI 2026 hackathon

Still Here

Still Here uses AI to check in with people living with grief and suggest one small, meaningful action to help them through the day.

Solo project by ROBIN H · 0 likes · 0 comments

Archive position — measured, not model output

0 likes on Devpost

2,264 of the 7,856 archived projects have more likes, and 5,592 share exactly 0 — so this project's #6,963 place in the like-ranked listing is a tie-break inside that group, not a ranking.

Projects (log scale)

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Likes on Devpost. ▲ marks this project's group.

Show the figures
LikesProjectsShare of archive
05,59271.2%
11,75822.4%
22853.6%
3–41321.7%
5–9751.0%
10+140.2%
Devpost like counts for all 7,856 archived projects, captured when this archive was built.

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Executive Summary

What the company appears to be: Still Here is a self-reported AI-powered daily reflection and self-care tool designed for people navigating grief after losing someone they love. The project was built by one person (ROBIN H) as part of an OpenAI 2026 hackathon submission.

What changed: The author states that the project evolved from personal experience—specifically, the loss of their mother—and was shaped through iterative design using AI tools like ChatGPT and Codex. It is described as a tool to support everyday moments of grief, not therapy or replacement for professional care.

Single most important open question: Is there evidence of real-world usage, user feedback, or traction beyond the prototype stage? The description contains no data on users, adoption, revenue, or customer engagement.

Note: This analysis is based entirely on the self-reported project description supplied by the caller. No external verification, archived history, or third-party sources are available. All claims in this report are labeled as "the description states" and should be treated as unverified assertions.

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What The Product Actually Is

  • The description states that Still Here is a daily reflection and self-care tool.
  • It uses AI to check in with users by asking one simple question: “How does today feel?”
  • Users can share emotional states, energy levels, or thoughts.
  • AI transforms those reflections into one small, personalized next step (e.g., drinking water, taking a walk).
  • Over time, the app becomes more personalized based on user preferences and feedback.
  • It includes features for organizing meaningful moments, photos, voice notes, songs, and written memories.
  • The app is described as not providing therapy, medical advice, or replacing human connection.

Inference: Based on the description, Still Here appears to be a conversational AI application focused on emotional wellbeing during grief. However, it is not evidenced to have any actual users or live functionality beyond a prototype.

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Positioning & Claim Evolution

  • The description states that Still Here was inspired by the author’s personal loss and aims to support people navigating grief.
  • It positions itself as a complement to existing support systems (therapy, counselling, support groups), not a replacement.
  • The app is described as using AI responsibly, without recreating lost loved ones or encouraging emotional dependence.
  • Key claims include:
    • “Still Here was created to help fill that space.”
    • “It is designed to complement therapy, grief counselling, support groups, and trusted personal relationships.”
    • “AI is used to personalize reflection and provide practical support while respecting the complexity and individuality of grief.”

Inference: The positioning has evolved from a deeply personal idea into a tool for others facing similar challenges. However, there is no evidence that this evolution has been validated through user testing or market feedback.

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Target Customer & ICP

  • The description states that Still Here targets people living with grief after losing someone they love.
  • It is intended to support individuals during everyday moments of grief when support from family and friends fades.
  • The app is described as not targeting therapists, counselors, or mental health professionals directly.
  • Users are expected to be those who experience grief in daily life, not necessarily those seeking clinical care.

Inference: The target customer segment appears to be people experiencing grief, but the description does not provide evidence of segmentation, personas, or user research beyond personal experience.

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Business Model & Pricing Evidence

  • The description states that Still Here is a tool designed to complement existing support systems and is not intended to replace them.
  • There is no mention of pricing, monetization strategy, or business model.
  • No indication whether the app will be free, paid, or offered through partnerships.

Not evidenced: No information on how Still Here intends to generate revenue or sustain operations.

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Technical & Delivery Signals

  • The project was built using AI tools such as ChatGPT and Codex.
  • These were used for:
    • Designing user journeys
    • Developing personalized support experiences
    • Creating activity suggestions based on emotional context
    • Refining language and safety boundaries
    • Accelerating development, testing ideas, debugging, and iterating features
  • The app is described as a working prototype built quickly using AI-assisted development.
  • It includes functionality for:
    • Daily check-ins
    • Personalized recommendations
    • Memory preservation (photos, voice notes, songs, written memories)

Inference: The use of AI tools like ChatGPT and Codex suggests rapid prototyping capabilities. However, no evidence exists regarding scalability, technical architecture, or long-term delivery plans.

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Traction & Maturity Signals

  • The project is described as a hackathon submission.
  • It was built by one person (ROBIN H).
  • There is no evidence of:
    • Users
    • Customer acquisition
    • Revenue
    • Product-market fit
    • Beta testing or real-world usage
    • Any form of traction beyond the prototype stage

Not evidenced: No data on adoption, retention, or user engagement.

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Competitive Context

  • The description does not mention competitors.
  • It implies that while grief support exists through therapy, counselling, and support groups, there is a gap in everyday moments between these supports.
  • Still Here is positioned as filling this gap with AI-driven personalization and daily check-ins.

Not evidenced: No competitive landscape analysis or awareness of existing tools in the grief support space.

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Key Risks & Red Flags

  • The project is described as a prototype built by one person, with no evidence of team size beyond that.
  • Risk of over-reliance on AI without sufficient human-centered design validation.
  • Lack of clarity around:
    • How personalization will scale
    • Whether AI recommendations are safe and effective
    • How the app handles sensitive emotional data
  • No mention of privacy, compliance, or ethical frameworks beyond “responsible AI.”
  • The goal is described as helping people feel less alone, but no evidence exists that this has been tested or validated.

Inference: Risks include lack of user validation, scalability concerns, and potential misuse of AI in emotionally vulnerable contexts.

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Diligence Questions To Ask The Founders

  1. What specific feedback have you received from people with lived experience of grief?
  2. How do you plan to validate the effectiveness of AI-generated recommendations?
  3. Have you considered how to handle edge cases or emotional crises that may arise during use?
  4. What are your plans for privacy, data security, and responsible AI governance?
  5. Are there any existing partnerships or collaborations with grief support organizations?
  6. How do you intend to scale beyond the current prototype?
  7. What metrics will you track to assess user engagement and impact?

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Investment/Partnership Verdict

  • The description states that Still Here is a hackathon submission, built by one person.
  • There is no evidence of revenue, customers, or traction.
  • The project is described as a personal initiative aimed at supporting others through grief.
  • It uses AI tools to accelerate development but lacks any indication of commercial viability or long-term strategy.

Verdict: Not evidenced. This is a prototype with no demonstrated traction or business model. Any investment or partnership decision would require further validation of user needs, product-market fit, and scalability.

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Source

Submitted to the OpenAI 2026 hackathon on Devpost. Project home on DevPost.

The analysis above was generated by a language model from the project's own one-line description. It is not independent research and contains no verified traction, revenue or customer data.