FocusPass: The student startup rethinking screentime

Sophia Vasylyeva, a senior studying computer science at SMU Lyle, is channeling lessons learned in the classroom toward tackling one of the biggest burdens facing kids and teens today — doomscrolling.

Her solution? An app called FocusPass, which aims to promote healthy screentime habits by offering engaging, intellectually stimulating alternatives to nonstop scrolling.

As a founding member and treasurer of the SMU Women’s Innovative Network — a first-of-its-kind mentorship and resource hub for undergraduate researchers and entrepreneurs — Vasylyeva has spent her senior year helping innovators get their ideas off the ground. Now, the mentors, resources and leadership experiences she’s gained at Lyle and the network are helping her take her own idea to the next level.

FocusPass is designed to address the screentime divide without hard-and-fast limits, which she believes foster distrust between parents and kids. Instead, when time runs out, FocusPass offers users the opportunity to earn back hours by answering brief, gamified quiz questions tailored to their age and interests — from math and science to space or coding. Extra points translate into extra minutes with their favorite apps, creating a collaborative, growth-oriented approach that frames screentime as something to be earned rather than restricted.

“Instead of working down from a set limit, users earn their screen time by answering questions on topics they’re already interested in,” Vasylyeva said. “That way, when they get access to their apps, they feel like they’ve earned it — and that feels more meaningful.”

The motivation behind FocusPass stems from her own experiences online, trying to limit screentime but inevitably getting pulled back in.

“Our phones are so important for our everyday lives, but we’re not getting any value from these five-second clips or the hours of mindless scrolling,” Vasylyeva said. “It’s ruining our attention spans.”

Instead of focusing on how much time kids are spending on their screens — which often leads to rebellion or workarounds — Vasylyeva’s app asks a different question: How can we make screentime productive?

“It’s not just about reducing doomscrolling — we’re trying to build better habits and stronger relationships between parents and kids,” she said.

SMU has supported her throughout the process, from building her technical foundation at Lyle to securing a first-place victory in the spring 2025 Big iDeas pitch competition, which provides mentorship, funding and financial support for student-led startups. She credits the achievement to months of preparation alongside her mentor, Neha, from the Office of Engaged Learning. With support from Neha and her professors, Vasylyeva turned her passion into a market-viable product with the potential to create real impact.

“My pitch was four months in the making — going from ‘I don’t know what I’m doing’ to ideation to settling on an idea and building it,” she said. “For me, starting was the hardest part, but once I got connected, that’s when I realized I could do it.”

When her first-place win was announced, the moment felt surreal.

“Hearing them call my name, I was overwhelmed that my work had paid off,” she said. “I have the chance to build something that makes a difference.”

Looking ahead, Vasylyeva sees FocusPass as more than a productivity app. She hopes it will help build healthy habits early, strengthen trust between parents and kids and serve as an educational tool in schools. She has already registered the app as an LLC and continues development, with an Android version completed and an iOS version in progress.

Each step of the process and each line of code tie back to what she learned during her four years at Lyle, where opportunities for trial and error gave her the confidence and analytical skills to think big.

“The easiest way to create something is to start with pen and paper, sketching ideas,” Vasylyeva said. “It’s the same thing I learned and practiced in my very first coding classes — it reinforces what you’re doing and why you’re doing it.”

She also points to the SMU-backed resources and support system that made it possible.

“SMU and Lyle are filled with opportunities, if you know where to look,” Vasylyeva said. “There’s always something or someone who can help you, teach you, mentor you or point you in the right direction. Whether it’s a project or a product, Lyle has the technology to help students build whatever ideas they have.”

For engineering or entrepreneurial hopefuls who want to follow a similar path, Vasylyeva’s advice is simple: Don’t be afraid to start.

“With the right tools and a willingness to try, anyone can do it, and I found those tools here,” she said. “When you’re passionate about it, whatever you throw at me — it doesn’t matter. I’m going to get it done.”

About the Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering

SMU’s Lyle School of Engineering thrives on innovation that transcends traditional boundaries. We strongly believe in the power of externally funded, industry-supported research to drive progress and provide exceptional students with valuable industry insights. Our mission is to lead the way in digital transformation within engineering education, all while ensuring that every student graduates as a confident leader. Founded in 1925, SMU Lyle is one of the oldest engineering schools in the Southwest, offering undergraduate and graduate programs, including master’s and doctoral degrees.

About SMU

SMU is the nationally ranked teaching and research university in the dynamic city of Dallas, and a member of the prestigious Atlantic Coast Conference. SMU’s alumni, faculty and more than 12,000 students in eight degree-granting schools demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit as they lead change in their professions, communities and the world.