We recently connected with Stefan Martin and have shared our conversation below.

Stefan, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Loneliness is becoming an increasingly serious issue—and year after year, it’s only getting worse. After 15 years in the tech industry, I’ve seen firsthand how some of the most damaging products have been social media platforms. They promised to bring us closer, but instead left us with ads, curated lifestyles, and very little genuine connection.

I’m building something different. A platform designed to help people share their authentic selves, connect through shared interests and values, and discover meaningful relationships—even beyond their immediate circles. Think: the wholesomeness of BeReal meets the community depth of Reddit, with the energy of short-form messaging.

The prototype is already live on the App Store and Google Play (https://aglow.life), and I’m really excited about what’s next: using AI to help people discover and connect through the content they share.

Stefan, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’ve loved building things since I was a kid, and that passion has only grown. What drives me now is the opportunity to create something that truly blesses people and helps foster a healthier relationship with technology. I deeply believe that tech companies can be both profitable and a force for good—but it requires intentional leadership and thoughtful company structures, where profit incentives align with enriching communities rather than extracting from them.

Outside of work, I’m an avid backpacker and enjoy staying active through recreational soccer, ultimate frisbee, running, and cycling. I also love bringing people together—whether that’s through a dinner party or spontaneous adventures. My hope is that both the presence I bring and the products I build inspire others to lean into community and contribute to something bigger than themselves.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Over the past year and a half, I’ve been building the foundation of Aglow—entirely on my own, without engineers, VC funding, or external support, relying solely on personal savings. It’s been a tough, often uncertain road filled with self-doubt and financial pressure. But I’m proud to have made it to a V1 launch and to now be connecting with other entrepreneurs to help grow the product and begin the journey of fundraising.

One quote that’s stayed with me through it all is from Dr. Seuss: “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

Being selectively stubborn is essential in entrepreneurship. My unwavering belief that people crave deeper, more genuine connection than what current social platforms offer has been my guiding light. And when the weight of trying to shift culture feels overwhelming, my faith that I’ll have just enough to keep going has been my anchor.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

For a long time, I believed that only those with Ivy League credentials could successfully raise funds for venture-backed startups. While attending a prestigious school can certainly open doors, I’ve come to see that it’s not a prerequisite. Many founders who’ve raised significant capital and built meaningful companies didn’t come from elite institutions. What truly matters more are resilience, character, and faith.

These three traits—resilience, character, and faith—are deeply connected by one core truth: it’s not about you. It’s about being of service and meeting real needs. When I couldn’t find a product that addressed my own challenges—or those of people I cared about—I felt called to build one. That desire to serve became the foundation of this company.

I’ve had the opportunity to work at some incredible companies—Uber, Amazon, Salesforce, Volta Charging—and I saw firsthand that the leaders who made it far shared those same qualities: resilience, faith, and character. Time and again, the biggest differentiator between those who succeed and those who don’t isn’t just skill or intelligence—it’s the refusal to give up on the mission to help others.

That kind of success requires a continual surrender of ego, and a relentless focus on listening, caring, and serving. That’s where real impact begins.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://aglow.life
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ste00martin/