Introduction

In this compelling episode of the Founder Spotlight Podcast, we chat with Steven Puri, the founder of The Sukha Company. Steven’s company offers an innovative platform designed to help remote workers dive deep into focus and productivity while fostering a sense of community and personal fulfillment. In a world where remote and hybrid work has become the norm, The Sukha Company delivers tools to combat distractions and enable individuals to thrive in their work-from-home environments.

Steven takes us through his entrepreneurial journey, from tackling personal challenges with remote work to launching a solution that’s embraced by a growing community. If you’ve ever wondered how to up your focus game while working remotely, Steven’s story will inspire and inform you.

Origin Story

Steven Puri’s entrepreneurial spark for The Sukha Company started with a relatable struggle: maintaining focus amidst the distractions of working from home. As Steven explained, “there are massive distractions between social media and a variety of things coming at you.” He and his co-founder experienced firsthand the benefits and challenges of remote work, from the flexibility of no commutes to the lure of endless interruptions.

The idea behind The Sukha Company was born from a simple yet powerful goal: to find a way to compress 8-10 hours of work into just 5 hours. “We graded this to solve our own problem and make productivity effortless,” Steven shared. This personal connection to the problem became the foundation of their mission—to create tools that empower users to focus, finish their tasks faster, and find happiness along the way.

Challenges & Breakthroughs

Every entrepreneurial journey has its hurdles, and Steven’s path with The Sukha Company was no different. Among the challenges they faced, one of the most significant was standing out in a competitive market with limited resources for advertising.

“There are other companies that are very well-funded and spend heavily on social media and search advertising. We don’t have those resources, so we’ve had to be scrappy,” Steven revealed.

The breakthrough came from embracing organic growth. The number one way The Sukha Company gains new users? Recommendations from existing members. Word-of-mouth became their most powerful driver of growth, fueled by the satisfaction of loyal users who loved the platform.

Steven also recalls a touching milestone early on when a community member in the Midwest posted in the group chat that he had finished his dissertation. Steven described the moment: “People around the world celebrated his achievement. It was a wonderful feeling of being part of a supportive community.”

Product & Market Insights

The Sukha Company provides a suite of tools designed to help remote workers focus deeply and work efficiently. What makes the platform unique is the combination of robust features and a supportive community.

Key Features Include:

• Focus music channels, including user-requested LoFi playlists
• AI coaches that provide guidance and reminders
• Timers and Pomodoro tools to boost productivity
• A task list to stay organized
• A healthy breaks feature to encourage balance
• A leaderboard that tracks daily productivity and wellness scores

The community component was an organic evolution. “Originally, we just had these focus tools,” Steven explained. “But we soon noticed users wanted to connect. That sense of community is where the magic happens—people supporting and celebrating each other’s wins.”

Leadership & Company Culture

Building a culture rooted in happiness and focus is at the core of Steven’s leadership philosophy. The name of the company—‘Sukha’—serves as a constant reminder of its mission. “Sukha means a self-fulfilled kind of happiness,” Steven shared. “It’s not about the work itself; it’s about how you feel at the end of it.”

Steven and his team have cultivated a feedback loop with their customers, implementing changes that resonate with users. For example, the ability to mute AI coaches was introduced after listening to the needs of both enthusiasts and skeptics.

“It’s really about striking a balance—adding features that help people focus and achieve flow while avoiding distractions,” Steven noted.

Lessons & Advice

With three startups under his belt (one successful exit and two failures), Steven’s advice to other founders is rooted in experience: “Really understand your customer problem. It’s great if you are also the customer because you can solve it from a place of understanding.”

For Steven, deep empathy for his users’ struggles allows him to continuously refine and improve the platform. Whether it’s responding to feedback or building meaningful relationships with coaches and creators, Steven sees The Sukha Company as a living solution that evolves alongside its community.

Future Vision

Steven’s vision for The Sukha Company is ambitious yet deeply thoughtful. “We want to build the office for the remote generation,” he declared. The goal is to create a platform where users feel supported by a vibrant community while leveraging a complete set of productivity tools. Whether you’re working from home or traveling, The Sukha Company aims to deliver a beautiful, functional online workspace that aligns with modern, remote lifestyles.

Upcoming Features:

• A free Chrome extension that transforms new tabs into a personalized dashboard with task lists, quotes, weather updates, and a collaborative coffee shop environment.
• A Slackbot integration that marks users as “in focus sessions,” signaling colleagues to respect their deep work times.

These additions reflect The Sukha Company’s ongoing commitment to helping users stay productive and connected.