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From Distraction to Action, Personalized for You

Founded by high school students in the International Baccalaureate Program, Iman Alyousif, Nadia Radwan, and Afshal Fatima, ClockWise is an AI-powered productivity tool designed to help students overcome procrastination through time limits, social accountability, and gamified learning.

Working together as co-founders, the team focused on balancing technical development with student-centered design, ensuring the app directly addressed real challenges faced by high school learners.

The app transforms studying into an engaging and meaningful experience, using “Quests” to challenge students to reach study goals, while friends can track progress and participate in shared accountability. By combining structure, motivation, and social reinforcement, ClockWise reframes studying from an isolating task into a collaborative and rewarding experience.

ClockWise first gained significant recognition through Youth Tech Labs, where the team competed at Demo Day and won first place for their innovative approach to student productivity and accountability. The financial award validated the project’s vision and highlighted its potential as a scalable, student-built solution to a widespread academic challenge.

As the idea continued to gain traction, the ClockWise team also received valuable exposure by presenting their work to leaders in innovation and technology. The founders had the opportunity to present ClockWise to the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) and CivicTech, where they received feedback on the project’s technical feasibility, scalability, and potential impact.

In 2024, ClockWise partnered with Gambit, a local Waterloo Region tech startup, to create the app’s AI-powered chatbot, and in July 2025 received grant support from the Youth Creativity Fund, enabling the team to expand the platform and add new features to strengthen functionality and user experience.

This collaboration allowed the group to transform their prototype into a functional MVP that students can use to manage study time, complete quests, and stay accountable — all while learning from experienced tech mentors in the region.

With funding from YCF, the team was able to compensate developers, purchase software, and refine technical features, turning a promising idea into a purpose-driven product with real potential to impact students.

Early testing with peers showed improved focus and performance on tasks, and the project continues to grow its community through social media, connecting students across the KW region and encouraging open conversations around procrastination, balance, and academic pressure.
As the project continued to grow, ClockWise secured sponsorship and institutional support from community partners, including UPS, Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute, and the City of Kitchener. These partnerships provided both financial and moral support, reinforcing community confidence in the project and enabling the team to continue developing ClockWise with stability and purpose.

Through the development of this project, the ClockWise team developed key skills in project management, leadership, entrepreneurship, and digital literacy.
Iman led organization, outreach, and community engagement, helping guide the overall vision of ClockWise. Nadia focused on product development and user experience, ensuring the app remained intuitive and engaging. Afshal, as design lead, shaped the app’s visual identity and interface to create a cohesive and student-friendly experience.

Together, the group learned how to navigate challenges such as translating an ambitious vision into a realistic, fundable plan and integrating feedback to improve user experience.
Most importantly, ClockWise has helped the founders build resilience, accountability, and confidence in turning ideas into tangible solutions.

As current Grade 12 students themselves, the founders built ClockWise not just as a tool they wanted, but as one they wished they had earlier in their academic journeys.

Looking ahead, the team plans to continue growing ClockWise by completing the MVP, collecting user feedback, expanding technical features, and strengthening community engagement. The remaining YCF funding will support further development, cloud hosting, and project management tools to scale the app responsibly.

The team also plans to launch ClockWise on the App Store and release their website to offer users a web-based beta, allowing for broader testing and feedback ahead of full-scale deployment.

ClockWise exemplifies how youth-led innovation, combined with mentorship, startup collaboration, and funding support, can transform an idea into a tool with real social impact — helping students focus, learn, and achieve their goals.

Follow along as ClockWise turns focus into action:
Instagram - @clockwise_3 | Linktree | LinkedIn - @ClockWise