kotsu: grow a friend by putting the phone down

it grows while you're gone, not while you stare

You both get to work.

A session is time you and your Kotsu spend apart, on purpose. The phone just rests, and that's enough.

Step one

Start a session together

Pick fifteen minutes, half an hour, an hour. Your Kotsu packs up and heads out to explore.

Step two

Go do your thing

The phone lies down. You do your thing: study, walk, dinner, sleep. Kotsu does theirs.

Step three

You both come back with something

Kotsu comes home a little bigger, a little braver. Came back early? Every minute still counted.

the gentle leaderboard

Compete on showing up. Never on screen time.

Friends rank by consistency: days you showed up this week, out of seven. Never hours, never minutes, never a number to be ashamed of.
Everyone who shows up at all gets a badge. There is no last place.
One tap sends a cheer: support while a friend's away, congrats when they're back.
Friends join by invite only. No strangers, no public profiles.

This week

Maya & Umi

6/7 days

top mover ↗

You & Mochi

5/7 days

showed up ✓

Sam & Poko

2/7 days

showed up ✓

for the closed beta

The first ones in become Founding Explorers.

Everyone in the closed beta keeps founder status for good. It's a thank-you, not a countdown.

A founder collar

A collar for your pet that will never be available again, earned by being here first.

Founder pricing, forever

Pro is free for the whole beta and your first six months after launch. After that, founders pay half. Forever.

A permanent badge

Founding Explorer status on your profile, always. Proof you were here before anyone else.

the waitlist, but warmer

Meet your pet. Save their name.

Pick a companion and name them now. We'll keep the name safe, and they'll write when the beta opens.

placeholder friends, the real hand-drawn pets are on their way

Give them a name

no name yet? leave it blank, they'll wait

Where should they write to?

That email doesn't look quite right. Mind giving it another look?

You'd be explorer .

Founding Explorer, included. Joining the beta from this list grants founder status: the collar, the badge, and founder pricing on Pro, forever.

Just your email: no spam, and you can ask us to delete it any time. See our privacy policy.

You're in. Your pet will write the moment the beta opens.

Your spot is saved. See you at the beta.

good questions

Honest answers.

What is Kotsu, in one breath?

A pet that grows on the time you spend off your phone. You start a session, put the phone down, and your Kotsu explores, coming home with XP, growth, and the occasional collar.

Does it watch what I do on my phone?

Kotsu can't see what you do on your phone: not your apps, messages, or browsing. During a session it only knows whether the phone stayed down. If we ever build something that looks deeper, like optional screen-time insights, it will be off by default and yours to turn on.

What if I come back early?

Then you come back early. You keep partial progress for the time you did spend away. No failure screens, no sad pet, ever. Every minute counts.

What if someone calls me?

Answer it. Calls and alarms don't end a session; Kotsu keeps exploring. And if you leave early on purpose, you keep credit for every minute you did spend away.

How much does it cost?

The closed beta is completely free, with nothing to buy in it. As a Founding Explorer you keep Pro free for your first six months after public launch, then at half price, forever. The pet, sessions, friends, and everything competitive never cost anything.

Where can I watch progress?

The Discord is where development happens in the open, and we post pet art and progress on TikTok and Instagram. Waitlist members hear everything first, by email.

When and where can I play?

The closed beta comes to both iPhone and Android. Waitlist members get invited first, in order. That's what the list is for.

Little by little, a friend grows.