Benchd App

Benchd is the self-improvement app built for the new wave of sports gambling addicts. It helps you bench the bets, track progress, and build winning habits that actually stick.

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Inspiration

At 27 years old, I was over $100,000 in debt from sports gambling. What started as fun quickly spiraled into an addiction - one fueled by the rise of legalized betting in the U.S. and the predatory tactics of gambling platforms. I take responsibility, but it’s terrifying how targeted and aggressive these systems are, especially toward young men.

I reached a breaking point. I felt trapped, ashamed, and isolated - going to bed each night with debt I couldn’t speak about, and a growing fear that I’d cross lines I never thought I would. I seriously considered ending it all. My wife saved me.

That’s why I built Benchd - because no one should have to feel that alone. There are tools out there, but they feel like government websites from 2005 or require calling a hotline. They’re valuable, but they’re not designed for this new generation. And the gambling companies? Their “responsible gaming” efforts are just window dressing. Their business model depends on bleeding us dry.

The Bolt Hackathon gave me the final push to channel my skills in tech and marketing - even without a coding background - into something real that could help people like me.

What it does

Benchd is a self-improvement app disguised as a recovery tool - built to help users rewire their habits, track their progress, and build a better life, one day at a time.

Users earn XP (experience points) by completing small, proven daily actions that promote mental clarity and healthy routines - things like:

  • Making the bed
  • Journaling
  • Drinking 8 glasses of water
  • Getting early sunlight
  • Going for a walk

They can also play quick internet-based games designed as healthy distractions - replacing the dopamine loop of gambling with something harmless and intentional.

The goal isn’t just to quit gambling - it’s to build a life worth living without it. No shame. No lectures. Just better habits, gamified healing, and the feeling of progress every single day.

How we built it

Benchd was built using:

  • Bolt for the frontend and rapid prototyping
  • Expo for the mobile-first experience
  • Supabase for user authentication and backend
  • Figma/Pinterest inspiration for the UI and flow
  • Custom screen recording + design refinements to simulate a real onboarding experience

The onboarding flow was the most intricate part - multiple screens, inputs, and emotional tone all needed to feel right. But once that was in place, the rest of the app came together smoothly.

Challenges we ran into

  • Starting the build late in the hackathon and not having time to submit to the App Store
  • Integrating multiple onboarding screens while keeping a mobile-native feel in Bolt and Expo
  • Fighting the emotional weight of the story - reliving this addiction while building a tool around it was harder than I expected
  • Wondering if anyone would care, or if I was just making this for myself

Accomplishments that we're proud of

  • A complete mobile-first app that feels real and solves a real problem
  • Integration with Supabase for a live auth flow
  • A tweet thread I shared with under 30 followers exploded to 27,000+ impressions and 70 bookmarks
  • Two people reached out in my DMs to thank me and say they needed this app
  • A complete design and product concept born from personal pain and turned into something hopeful

What we learned

  • The need for modern, emotional-first recovery tools is huge - especially for younger gamblers
  • Building with tools like Bolt and Supabase makes real change accessible, even without being a developer
  • Authentic stories connect - when I opened up about my experience, people listened
  • Shame-free design matters. People don’t want to feel punished - they want to feel seen
  • The App Store and native developer process is more labor-intensive and time-consuming than expected - but now that I’ve experienced it, I feel ready for that next phase

What's next for Benchd App

  • Finalize and deploy the native app version to the App Store and Google Play
  • Add push notifications for daily check-ins and progress reminders
  • Continue refining the XP-based habit system and distraction toolkit
  • Partner with recovery organizations and mental health professionals to ensure the app supports real healing
  • Grow Benchd into the leading platform for helping young people escape the trap of gambling addiction - one day, one check-in, one habit at a time

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