How We Started

It Started With a Walk

Olivier and Adriaan met while organizing and participating in 24 The Planet, a global movement that brings people together for 24-hour walks across cities worldwide to raise money to fight climate change. While preparing the second edition, something started to bother them.

Even while working on something deeply meaningful, they kept getting distracted by their phones. Notifications, social media, messages. Their attention was constantly being pulled away from what actually mattered.

The Frustration

At one point, Adriaan said something that stuck with Olivier: “I wish I could block all my social media apps, but still use my phone for the things I actually need. Apps that promise this never really work. I always find a way around them.”

That was the painful truth. The problem wasn’t awareness. It wasn’t even motivation. It was friction. Software solutions are easy to override. And when temptation is always within reach, discipline rarely wins.

Instead of trying yet another app, Olivier asked a different question: "What if the solution wasn’t software at all? What if it was physical?"

They started building. After many iterations and prototypes, they finally got it right, and Block was born. A simple physical device that allows you to block specific apps while keeping everything else on your phone accessible.

The Breakthrough

Along the way, something unexpected happened. They realized that the physical separation wasn’t just a feature, it was the breakthrough. By activating Block and then physically leaving it at home, they removed the possibility of overriding their own decision. That small act changed their relationship with their phone entirely.

What followed was more focus, more presence, and deeper connections with friends. Their phones were still there when needed. But no longer in control.

More Than a Product

When friends started testing Block, the response was immediate. Less mindless scrolling. More attention. More meaningful conversations. Phones used for what they’re meant for, not what steals our time. That’s when they knew this wasn’t just a product. It was a tool to take your time back.

Because Block was born through 24 The Planet, that connection remains at its core. For every Block sold, € 1 is donated to support the fight against climate change.

We built Block to help ourselves focus. We hope it brings you the same clarity, calm, and control it brings us.

Olivier & Adriaan