Avalon McWha describes Pebbl as a small companion for a smoother life. Small and nifty, Pebbl captures reminders with your voice, then gives gentle nudges across the day. With no screen and no conversational AI, Pebble gives simple, secure prompts that keep you focused on the world in front of you.
“I kept asking how I could keep up with life without getting stuck on my phone,” Avalon said. “I wanted something that helped me move through the day, not drag me back into a feed.”
The problem space is both personal and widely felt. As we spoke Avalon shared her lived experience of Autism and ADHD and spoke to the years of personal exploration for answers on how different minds move through an increasingly noisy world. More than five million Australians experience some form of cognitive complexity or neurological disability. This can impact one’s ability to manage day-to-day tasks which is closely tied to wellbeing and quality of life. Many digital tools promise structure but end up adding friction.
As we continued chatting, Avalon spoke to the origins of Pebbl, in particular the naming. “The name carries a story” she said “In the wild, penguins present pebbles as tokens of care.” She continued sharing that within neurodivergent communities, the idea has been embraced as a way of showing appreciation, a tiny exchange that says I am thinking of you. Pebbl takes that spirit and turns it into a pocket sized ritual. It is intentionally tactile (and a little playful). Think accountability buddy meets no pressure companion with the goal being to make follow through flow.
Before Avalon joined our pre-accelerator Launch Club, Pebbl was just an idea. “Launch Club gave me the push and the accountability to just go for it,” she said. In a matter of weeks, Pebbl moved from concept to working prototypes, a company was incorporated and a waitlist grew to hundreds. Now Pebbl is a small cross functional team formed around the mission, spanning hardware, software, security, legal and communications. The common thread is depth of craft and a shared belief that ethical, function focused tech can exist.
When I first met Avalon at the Winter’25 Demo Day she held out Pebbl, and barely hesitated before giving me a live demo. What struck me was how Pebbl is so deliberately refined. You press to record a reminder, then Pebbl handles the timing and the nudge. By removing the lure of a screen and the noise of a conversation loop, it keeps the interaction short and focused. “Remind me to catch up with Bell at 8pm,” Avalon spoke into her Pebbl and it was set. Quick. Seamless. Supportive.
Avalon has been exploring how form and personality influence follow through. A device can be simple, even a little silly and still build a bond that drives accountability. You are more likely to respond to a friendly nudge you trust than a calendar bark you ignore.
For Avalon and the Pebbl crew, the next few months are about depth and evidence. The team is synthesising research from decades of academic and clinical work to explore how Pebbl aligns with what is already known about cognition, habit formation and mental load. They are also speaking with leaders in health across Australia and beyond as well as co-designing with neurodivergent and disabled communities to make sure the product reflects real needs (rather than assumptions).
Alongside the research track, the hardware track is accelerating. The team is iterating toward a custom device and preparing to share more as the engineering matures. Community events will sit at the centre of this work. The plan is to host sessions where people can try Pebbl, offer feedback and help shape the details, from the feel in the hand to the tone of the nudges.
When asked what changed for her as a founder throughout Launch Club, Avalon comes back to confidence and rhythm. “From day one you are pitching, practicing, sharing,” she said. “You rip off the bandaid and learn to be a little more extroverted. It was challenging and really good.”
Pebbl is not trying to be another everything app. It is trying to be a small, steady presence that turns intention into action without demanding your attention in return.
If you want to follow the build on Instagram, Avalon is sharing progress and welcomes thoughtful collaborators.
Pebbl’s story is still being written, one nudge at a time.
