SSENSORY: One Week In - What's Next?

With over 450 people joining the waitlist in just 3 days, here's where I'm at and how can you help?

Photo by Valeria Boltneva

It's been exactly one week since I nervously hit 'post' on that TikTok announcing SSENSORY, and what a week it's been!

First off, I want to say a massive thank you to everyone who's joined our waitlist - we've just crossed 450 signups, which is honestly staggering. When I first shared that machine learning model for predicting sensory overload in neurodivergent folks, I knew it resonated, but this level of enthusiasm has blown me away.

The Power of "Me Too"

The comments and messages I've received have been deeply moving. So many of you have shared your experiences of being blindsided by sensory overload or emotional dysregulation - those moments where suddenly everything becomes Too Much, often with little warning.

One message particularly stuck with me: "I thought I was the only one who could feel a meltdown coming but couldn't explain how I knew." This is exactly why I'm building SSENSORY. That feeling isn't random - there are physiological patterns happening beneath the surface, and technology can help us identify them.

Where We're At

So what's happening behind the scenes? This week I've been:

• Setting up our development environment

• Researching wearable APIs (particularly Apple Watch to start)

• Mapping out the MVP features based on your feedback

• Talking to potential advisors with expertise in neurodivergent support

I'm taking a methodical approach because I want to get this right. As a neurodivergent person myself, I've seen too many tools that claim to help us but aren't actually built for our needs. SSENSORY will be different - built by and for our community. Although the machine learning model worked well, turning that into an app is new territory that I’m determined to conquer.

What's Next: I Need Your Input

Now comes the exciting part - and where I need your help.

I've created a brief survey to better understand your specific needs and preferences. If you're on our waitlist, you'll receive an email with the link shortly. If you're reading this and haven't joined yet, there's a link at the bottom of this post.

The survey covers:

• Which wearables you currently own

• Your specific sensory challenges

• Features you'd find most valuable

• How hormonal cycles affect your sensory experiences (if applicable)

Your responses will directly shape our development priorities. This isn't just market research - it's about building a tool that truly understands and supports your unique neurodivergent experience. Despite being neurodivergent, I know that it isn’t linear, that it isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” and it’s a spectrum. I’m not building something just for me, I’m building it for us.

I’m also applying for funding and grants as I’m currently self-financing to make SSENSORY what I’m envisioning to be. If you know of any pre-seed accelerators or pre-seed grants I can apply for, do let me know!

The Roadmap

Here's what you can expect in the coming months:

• May-June: Development of core detection algorithms

• July: Initial prototype testing with a small group

• August: Expanded beta testing

• September: Public beta launch

Throughout this process, I'll be sharing updates, challenges, and insights here on Substack and on our social channels on TikTok, Instagram and LinkedIn (@ssensoryapp). This journey isn't just about building an app - it's about creating technology that fundamentally respects neurodivergent experiences.

Join Us

If you haven't already joined our waitlist, you can do so here!

And if you're already on the list, keep an eye on your inbox for our survey. Your input is invaluable.

Thank you for believing in this vision. Together, we're creating technology that adapts to people, rather than expecting people to adapt to technology.

With gratitude,

Jennifer Opal

Founder of SSENSORY