I don't know about you, but I'm simply tired. Tired of this incessant flow of information thrown at us, unfiltered. Short videos, advertisements, tweets, notifications... it's a constant intrusion into our mental privacy.
I even isolated myself for two years, accepting only the "juice": a few newsletters and books.
Little did I know that my personal quest for clarity was just the tip of the iceberg of a huge problem I was about to encounter in the business world: the desperate struggle to be not only seen, but truly understood.
The invisible chain that stifles businesses
That information paralysis I felt firsthand? It hit me hard in 2024, when I immersed myself in Rocket, Globo's startup reality show. There were 24 promising startups, almost 50 founders sharing the same roof, immersed.
The most absurd and revealing thing? After an intense week inside, the truth was that no one had the slightest idea what the startup next door actually did! And it wasn't because of disinterest, it was the brain in defense mode: with that brutal volume of unfiltered information, without a clear emotional connection, without simplicity... nothing stuck → Valuable information simply evaporated.
It was there that I noticed the invisible chain that was holding back the vital flow of information.
I began to investigate, using my work at Feerie to validate this hypothesis with our B2B clients. The diagnosis was confirmed. Essential information was simply not accessible. There were several reasons for this:
- We don't know exactly where the information is stored
- The person who has the information is not available
- Information management is decentralized or non-existent
- The format (complex spreadsheets, long documents) is misaligned with the company's actual culture.
- Most critically: No one is officially responsible for keeping the information alive and up to date.
The consequences? A daily drain:
- Precious time evaporating in frustrating searches.
- Rework that exhausts patience and the budget.
- Crucial decisions based on guesswork or outdated data.
- Opportunities slipping away due to sheer slowness or misinformation.
Information management is a problem that involves so many variables (technology, training of key players, infrastructure, understanding by stakeholders...) that I left this chain in a corner of my mind, without imagining that the key to breaking it would come in a totally unexpected way.
The lightbulb moment at Empretec: When simplicity slapped me in the face (and gave me an idea)
I was selected for Empretec, here at Sebrae PR: an entrepreneur training program created by the United Nations (UN). Six days of immersion for 60 hours of training. Intense.
In the middle of it all was her: the owner of an Asian restaurant who was also participating. During the first five days, I barely noticed her presence. She was always focused, discreet, minding her own business.
On the last day, when it was time to share our results, it was a bucket of cold water in my face. She presented exceptional results.
While I was searching for the magic formula, complicating strategies, she taught me by example:
- Application of simple concepts
- Simple execution
- Simple selling
Zero complications. Zero frills. Total focus on the essentials.
At that moment, the invisible 'chain' that bound companies suddenly seemed less frightening. Perhaps the solution was not a mega-complex system, but something... fundamentally simple. The seed of Attlas had just been planted.
From idea to action in 24 hours: the birth of Attlas
In the next 24 hours, I didn't "create" the final Attlas ready for sale. I needed to prove to myself that it was technically possible, within my reach, to develop a working prototype.
I did it. I had something there, an embryo. But software without users is just code. And that's where Teddy Tchogninou comes in. My partner at Feerie and a master at networking, a connector of people.
Teddy threw me into the arena: "Go talk to the people who matter!"
He put me in front of dozens of professionals, business owners from a wide range of industries. I went to understand their real pain with information, what would really make a difference for them.
The reality: what I had built, based on my initial vision, was not quite what the market needed. I swallowed my pride. I deleted everything. I started from scratch.
I built it again. I tested it. But the technology I chose wasn't right. It was quick to prototype, but it wouldn't scale. Trash again.
Restart number three: the vision of simplicity as a guide, but now with the right technology and user feedback as a compass.
This dance of building, testing, listening, breaking, learning, and redoing lasted a few intense months.
You are reading this post because that effort led to Attlas MVP (Minimum Viable Product), which is now online. A minimal product, yes, but already viable, functional, ready to start making a difference and evolving with those who use it.
How Attlas transforms information into interaction
Think about all the knowledge that your company or you yourself accumulate: forgotten documents in folders, huge PDFs, training videos, complex spreadsheets, important links lost in emails, meeting audio recordings... an ocean of valuable data, but scattered and often inaccessible when you need it most.
Attlas was created to solve this problem: to allow you to find, use, and share the right information at the right time, without having to hunt for it. It boils down to three simple steps:
1. Absorb everything effortlessly
Free yourself from old formats or scattered sources. Literally drag and drop, collect from wherever you want, and let Attlas organize it.
2. Instant answers, in the right format
No more rummaging through folders or depending on the availability of colleagues. Get straight to the point: ask Attlas a question in the chat, in natural language, as if you were talking to someone on the team. It searches its entire knowledge base and gives you the precise answer you need, in the format that makes sense: a direct text, that specific image, the exact document, or the correct link. It's that simple.
3. Your data, your rules: Total and flexible control.
Manage access permissions with agility. Want to release a specific chat for public consultation? One click. Want to ensure that only certain teams see sensitive data? Easy to configure. You decide who sees what, when, and how.
What stage is the project at?
Attlas v1.0 is already worthy and useful. It doesn't have all the features yet, but it already delivers real value: it works well to relieve teams with basic support and service, centralizing FAQs, manuals, and internal documents, etc.
We are not alone in this! We already have more than 150 visionary professionals who have embraced Attlas in this initial phase. They provide feedback that shapes the next steps.
Attlas is a project built from scratch, with its own resources and a small but incredibly committed team.
The pace of development is intense and surgical. The vision is clear and simple. Attlas is a Product-Led Growth: building a product so good, so relevant to the user, that it presents itself.
I confess that I still don't know exactly how to present it, but the mission is to transform static information into useful and instant interactions.