Today we’d like to introduce you to Angel Heaven Lee.
Hi Angel Heaven, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey really started with burnout. I was diagnosed with ADHD later in life, after years of trying every planner, productivity system, and time management trick that was supposed to work. On paper, I was doing everything “right,” but nothing ever stuck. Instead of feeling supported, most tools left me feeling like I was failing at productivity itself.
As a person with a disability, I’ve spent much of my life adapting to systems that weren’t designed with me in mind. That experience shaped how I think about accessibility, motivation, and independence. When my husband was also diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, it reinforced something I already knew… the condition wasn’t a personal failure; it was a design problem.
Focus Play™ grew out of that realization. I wanted to build something that worked with how neurodivergent brains actually function, especially our need for novelty, flexibility, and positive reinforcement. Instead of punishment or shame when tasks don’t get done, Focus Play™ uses gamification to encourage progress, curiosity, and momentum, even on hard days.
Today, I’m building Focus Play™ as a solo founder, guided by lived experience, user feedback, and a deep commitment to accessibility. What started as a personal survival tool has become a growing platform aimed at helping others feel capable, supported, and empowered in their daily lives.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Building Focus Play™ as a solo founder has meant bootstrapping almost everything myself, from early development costs to legal filings and product testing. Without outside capital in the early stages, every decision had to be thoughtful and sustainable, especially while balancing disability, late-diagnosed ADHD, and limited bandwidth.
Funding has been one of the biggest challenges. Many traditional funding pathways aren’t designed with disabled founders or early-stage, accessibility-focused products in mind. I’ve had to actively seek grants, pitch competitions, and non-dilutive funding opportunities, often while teaching myself the language of investors and funders along the way. That process can be slow and competitive, and progress doesn’t always happen on a predictable timeline.
There is also an emotional side to bootstrapping. When you’re funding something yourself, delays or setbacks feel very personal. I’ve had to learn how to pace growth, protect my energy, and resist the pressure to scale faster than what’s realistic or healthy.
Still, those challenges have shaped Focus Play™ into something more intentional and grounded. Building this way has kept the product aligned with real user needs, accessibility, and long-term sustainability, even when the road has been difficult.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Focus Play™ is a gamified productivity and focus app designed for neurodivergent adults, especially those with ADHD, who struggle with traditional productivity tools. Most productivity apps are built around rigid systems, streaks, and pressure. Focus Play™ takes a different approach by working with how neurodivergent brains actually function, using flexibility, novelty, and positive reinforcement instead of guilt or punishment.
What sets Focus Play™ apart is that it isn’t about fixing people or forcing consistency. It’s about creating a supportive, shame-free environment where progress counts, even when it’s small or nonlinear. Users can break tasks into manageable challenges, choose focus sessions that fit their energy level, and earn rewards that encourage momentum rather than burnout.
I’m especially proud that accessibility and lived experience are built into the brand from the ground up. Focus Play™ is created by a disabled, neurodivergent founder and shaped directly by user feedback. Every design decision centers dignity, autonomy, and sustainability, not hustle culture.
What I want readers to know most is that Focus Play™ is about meeting people where they are. It’s a reminder that productivity doesn’t have to be painful to be effective and that your brain isn’t broken; it just deserves tools designed with it in mind.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was curious, imaginative, and deeply observant. As a child, I was inquisitive, perceptive, and able to concentrate intensely on subjects that truly captivated me. I loved learning, creating, and problem-solving, but I also struggled with boredom, overwhelm, and feeling out of sync with the expectations around me.
Personality-wise, I was empathetic and sensitive, with a strong sense of justice even at a young age. I cared deeply about people and fairness, and I felt things intensely. I could be outgoing and expressive in the right environment, but I also needed space to recharge, even if I didn’t yet have the language for why.
Interest-wise, I gravitated toward creative outlets, storytelling, music, and anything that let me explore ideas freely. At the same time, traditional structures, rigid routines, and one-size-fits-all expectations often felt uncomfortable or limiting. I internalized a lot of that as personal failure rather than recognizing that my brain simply worked differently.
Looking back now, it’s clear that my neurodivergence shaped how I experienced the world from the very beginning. What once felt like contradictions—being both driven and exhausted, social yet overwhelmed, and creative but scattered—makes a lot more sense now. Those early traits didn’t disappear; they evolved, and they continue to inform how I build, lead, and create today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://focusplay.app
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focusplayapp
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FocusPlayApp
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/focus-play-app/
