Start-up mymentalspace set to eliminate non-productive Internet use

TechTown-based mymentalspace is launching is principal product this month, software that helps Internet users maximize their time online by eliminating non-productive Web surfing.

The start-up's software works to solve problems as big as techno-brain burnout and as simple as staying on task when online. The web browser plug-in helps prevent people from falling down the proverbial Internet rat hole of wasted time, energy and physical well-being. The plug-in prompts everything from inspirational quotes to calming photos/videos to outside help from a friend when someone tries to click on a website they know they shouldn't visit when they're trying to get something done.

Mark Ostach is leading a team of five people to perfect this software, which has been two years in the making. They have been testing it on a group of 800 people for months and are now confident enough to release it for Firefox and Chrome users. An Internet Explorer version will be released soon.

"It's going to be quality and it's going to be simple to use," says Ostach, founder of mymentalspace. "Those were our two key issues before releasing it to the public."

Ostach, who works full-time for software start-up Digerati Solutions, set a goal of having 1 million users within the first year of its release. He also hopes to hire a full-time employee or two in that time, too.

Source: Mark Ostach, founder of mymentalspace
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.