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Ulf Schwekendiek

Founder & CEO at Centered.app Inc

Ulf Schwekendiek is the Founder and CEO of Centered.app Inc., a company focused on transforming work practices by integrating mindfulness techniques with task management to enhance focus and productivity. He has a diverse background in software engineering and user experience (UX) design, having worked on notable projects and startups throughout his career.

Background and Education

  • Early Life: Ulf was raised in Germany but has spent most of his life in the United States, which has influenced his bilingual abilities; he speaks German with an American accent and English with a German accent.1
  • Education: He holds multiple degrees:
    • Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Paderborn University (2004-2007)
    • Master of Computer Science from Concordia University (2007-2008)
    • Master of Science in Integrated Digital Media from New York University (2009-2010), where he graduated with a 4.0 GPA.2

Professional Experience

  • Center for Mindful Work: Since January 2020, Ulf has led Centered.app, which focuses on enhancing productivity through mindfulness.2
  • Previous Roles:
    • Senior Engineering Manager at Postmates (2019)
    • Engineering roles at Descript and Detour.com, the latter acquired by Bose.2
    • Co-founder of Ditto, which was acquired by Groupon, where he also held engineering management positions.12
    • Early career included significant contributions to Siri at Apple before it was acquired by the company.1

Interests and Activities

Ulf is passionate about activities that promote flow states, such as paragliding, where he serves as a tandem instructor. He finds this sport not only beautiful but also an excellent way to achieve mental clarity and relaxation.1

Through his work at Centered.app, Ulf aims to create software that not only improves productivity but also invokes emotional responses from users, reflecting his belief in the importance of emotional engagement in technology.1

Highlights

Nov 17 · TechCrunch
Go grow your flow plateau with Centered's calendar judo, radio and co-working combo - TechCrunch
Go grow your flow plateau with Centered's calendar judo, radio and co-working combo - TechCrunch
Sep 9 · TechCrunch
From The Hackathon: Local Drunk Lets You Grab A Drink With A Local - TechCrunch

Related Questions

What inspired Ulf Schwekendiek to create Centered.app?
How does Ulf Schwekendiek's background in engineering and UX influence his approach to software development?
What are some of the key features of Centered.app?
How does Centered.app integrate mindfulness techniques into task creation?
What challenges did Ulf Schwekendiek face while developing Centered.app?
Ulf Schwekendiek
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Location

San Francisco, California, United States