In a startup world obsessed with growth at all costs, OKRs Tool takes a quieter, more deliberate stance: helping small teams grow with focus and sustainability.
Founded by Steven Macdonald, the Estonia-based startup has built a lightweight OKR platform designed not for corporate giants – but for early-stage teams trying to scale without losing direction or burning out.
We sat down with Steven to talk about why clarity matters more than speed, how OKRs can make work more human, and what “tech for good” really means in the age of startup hustle.
“Startups don’t fail from lack of effort - they fail from lack of focus.”
Q: Steven, what’s the story behind OKRs Tool?
Steven: Like many founders, it started from frustration. I’d been advising startups for years and saw the same pattern over and over – small teams running at full speed but in ten different directions. Everyone was busy, but no one was aligned.
I was using spreadsheets to run OKRs for clients, and it just didn’t scale. That’s when I realized: the problem isn’t motivation, it’s structure. These teams didn’t need more hustle; they needed focus. So I built OKRs Tool to give them that – a simple, affordable way to stay aligned without getting buried in the process.
“Focus is the most underrated form of wellbeing.”
Q: Tech for Good is about impact and responsibility. Where does OKRs Tool fit in that bigger picture?
Steven: I think clarity is deeply tied to wellbeing. When people don’t know what matters most, work becomes chaotic. You end up with anxiety, burnout, and a culture where effort doesn’t equal progress.
OKRs Tool helps change that dynamic. It gives teams visibility – not to micromanage, but to make sure energy is going into the right places. That’s good for business, but it’s also good for people. It creates healthier teams and better workplaces.
When you think about “tech for good,” it doesn’t have to mean saving the planet – sometimes it’s about building tools that make work more humane.
“We designed it for the five-person team, not the Fortune 500.”
Q: What makes OKRs Tool different from the other goal-setting platforms out there?
Steven: Simplicity and empathy. We designed it for a five-person startup that’s trying to hit product-market fit, not for a 5,000-person enterprise with a strategy department.
Most OKR platforms are bloated. They assume you’ve already got layers of management, metrics everywhere, and people dedicated to planning. Startups don’t have that luxury.
OKRs Tool cuts out the noise – it focuses on clarity, check-ins, and conversations. We also made pricing transparent and accessible. You shouldn’t have to pay enterprise prices to stay aligned.
“Retention means you’re not just building software - you’re changing behavior.”
Q: What’s traction been like so far?
Steven: Really promising. Hundreds of teams signed up – and 80% of them stayed active after their first month. That tells me we’re not just solving a theoretical problem. Teams are actually using it to run their business.
We’ve also seen amazing feedback from founders who say they finally have visibility into what’s working – and what isn’t. That kind of insight can completely change how a team operates.
“The next step is helping teams think better, not just track better.”
Q: What’s next for OKRs Tool?
Steven: We’re building a template library to help teams set better goals faster – like plug-and-play OKRs for sales, marketing, and customer success. We’re also adding advanced analytics and light automation, so teams can see trends in their progress without having to crunch numbers manually.
The vision is to make OKRs feel effortless. Not another dashboard you dread opening, but something that fits naturally into your weekly rhythm.
“Tech for good starts with founders building better companies.”
Q: Final question - what’s your philosophy on building ‘tech for good’ ?
Steven: For me, it’s simple: build software that helps people do meaningful work and go home on time. That’s the kind of good that scales quietly but powerfully.
When startups grow in a healthy, focused way, they create better jobs, stronger teams, and more sustainable companies. That ripple effect is what excites me most.
OKRs Tool isn’t just a product – it’s a framework for doing work that matters, without losing yourself in the chaos.
Why We Featured OKRs Tool
While most software pushes teams to go faster, OKRs Tool helps them go forward with purpose. By prioritizing clarity, inclusivity, and ease of use, it embodies what tech for good really means – creating lasting impact in the small moments that shape how we work.
