Building a Smarter Dumb Phone: Why Simplicity Still Wins

Welcome back to Founder Mode!

We all know smartphones have become addictive. Notifications, endless scrolling, and constant distractions have taken over. But what if the answer isn’t no tech just less?

In this episode of Founder Mode, Jason and I chatted with Austin Boer. He founded Sleke, which makes the “perfect dumb phone.” His team is creating a distraction-free phone. It offers the essentials like maps, calls, and texts, but keeps you grounded in real life.

Let’s break down what we learned.

Simplicity, with Just the Right Features

Austin isn’t trying to bring us back to flip phones. He’s building something new, a phone with only essential tools.

That means the Sleke phone supports:

• QR codes
• Navigation
• Messaging
• Music
• Some lightweight apps (but only ones that help, not distract)

But you won’t find social media, games, or anything with infinite scroll.

How Austin Built This, Literally

Austin and his co-founder are handcrafting each phone. They use refurbished Pixel devices and a simplified version of Android.

They've conducted over 200 customer interviews. They log feedback in Excel and keep improving the product.

As I said in the episode:

It’s full founder mode. Lean, scrappy, and deeply user-focused.

The App Store with Rules

Unlike Apple or Google Play, Sleke’s app store is intentionally curated.

Here’s how they decide what stays out:

They even have a machine learning expert working on a system to score apps by “distractibility.”

I get the concern people may have, who decides what’s “good” or “bad”? But Austin explained why this matters:

Community First, Not Just Devices

Sleke isn’t just selling phones. They’re selling a movement.

Their community supports people who want to live more intentionally. Whether it’s meeting offline or joining a Slack group, the mission is clear: help people rediscover the real world.

Austin puts it simply:

This includes more events, community ideas, and feedback loops. These help them stay close to what customers need and what they don’t.

What’s Next? Options Without the Luxury Price Tag

The plan now?

• Keep building on secure Android infrastructure
• Launch multiple device options at different price points
• Keep the OS lean and clean
• Avoid making minimalism a luxury

This mindset will set them apart. This is important as tech moves toward more immersive devices, like AR glasses and wearable screens.

My 5 Key Takeaways

1. Build through constant user conversations

Austin personally called hundreds of customers to understand what they needed and what didn’t work.

2. People want less, but not nothing

They still want tools like maps, music, and messaging. The key is balance, not full rejection of tech.

3. Use heuristics to stay focused

Clear rules help them say yes or no to new features, instead of drifting into complexity.

4. Start lean, move fast

They used existing tools, like refurbished phones and open OS, to ship quickly and smartly.

5. Avoid turning purpose into premium

Keeping prices low is part of the mission, it’s about accessibility, not exclusivity.

Final Thoughts

We don’t dream of our phones. We dream of moments, people, and experiences.

That’s the insight behind Sleke. This isn’t about removing all tech. It’s about removing the noise.

As I said at the end of the episode:

That’s how you create something real, and maybe even help people get back to real life while you’re at it.

🎧 Listen to Episode 37 here:

Simple Design is Best with A... Dec 18 · Founder Mode 20:03   ​

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-kevin

2810 N Church St #87205, Wilmington, DE 19802
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