Maybe envisions a future where individuals wield full clarity and command over their financial lives from early salaries to retirement by providing transparent, technology-driven financial planning tools crafted in plain English. We believe that empowering long-term financial wellness begins with accessible, holistic insight that connects every facet of a user’s economic story.
Anchored in innovative open-source development, Maybe evolves with its community to build adaptable and enduring financial management solutions, ensuring users not only plan but thrive through all stages of life. This approach fosters sustainable personal finance ecosystems that grow richer with collective input.
Our mission transcends software; it invites a cultural shift towards proactive and comprehensible wealth stewardship, helping a generation confidently navigate the complexities of modern money in a way that is intuitive, user-centric, and perpetually evolving.
Our Review
Maybe's story hits close to home for anyone who's ever tried to build something ambitious. We've watched plenty of startups pivot, but rarely have we seen such a graceful transformation from paid service to open-source project.
The company caught our attention initially for its refreshingly honest approach to financial planning. Co-founders Josh Pigford and Travis Woods weren't trying to sell another budgeting app—they wanted to build a lifetime financial companion that could grow with users from their first paycheck to retirement planning.
The Pivot That Actually Made Sense
Here's where Maybe's story gets interesting. After raising $1.45 million and building a solid platform, they discovered what many fintech startups learn the hard way: getting people to pay $15/month for financial planning tools is tougher than it looks, even with 10,000 people on your waiting list.
Instead of doubling down or shutting down, they made a bold choice. They open-sourced the entire platform under an AGPLv3 license, essentially giving away years of development work to the community. It's a move that shows real integrity—and frankly, it's probably the best outcome for users who were worried about yet another financial service disappearing.
What We Found Impressive
The technical execution is solid. Maybe's Net Worth Dashboard and mini-tools like the Freedom Calculator show thoughtful design, especially for millennials who want everything connected and visual. Having Travis Woods—a CFP and CFA—as co-founder shows they took the financial planning aspect seriously, not just the tech.
The crowdfunding approach through Republic was smart too. Raising money from 1,300 individual investors instead of traditional VCs probably gave them more freedom to make this open-source decision without boardroom battles.
The Reality Check
Let's be honest—Maybe's commercial version didn't work out as planned. The gap between waiting list excitement and paying customers tells a familiar story in consumer fintech. But their response to failure is what sets them apart.
The open-source version means developers can self-host and customize the platform, though the original team isn't actively maintaining it anymore. For the right user, this could be exactly what they wanted: full control over their financial data without ongoing subscription fees.
Feature
Net Worth Dashboard
Freedom Calculator
Crypto Index Fund
Financial account aggregation
Financial independence and growth calculators
Checklists tailored to financial planning
Community support on Discord and social media
FAQs
