Nepho: A Private Companion for the Twelve Steps

Charles J. is newly sober and committed to working the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) program in earnest. Like many in early recovery, he longed for a way to fully "plug in"—to understand the Twelve Steps, see how they connect, and do the reflective work in a focused, intentional way.

Although the recovery space is filled with literature, podcasts, and mobile apps, most offerings left Charles adrift in slogans and sobriety counters. He wanted more than reminders or streaks; he needed a grounded guide that would help him process each step privately and personally.

Without a clear companion to walk alongside his journey, Charles searched for a practical, trustworthy resource. That search—and the gap it revealed—sparked the Nepho project.

Despite hundreds of recovery-related apps, none offered what Charles and others in early sobriety needed most: a true companion through the spiritual and reflective work that defines the AA program. Most tools tracked days sober, moods, or social connection, but few illuminated the arc of the Twelve Steps themselves.

They needed:

• Guidance that breaks down each step with clarity and context.
• Space to reflect and journal without public visibility or pressure.
• Gentle progress tracking that honors personal pace.
• A trustworthy tool that works offline and respects anonymity.

Without such a companion, many newcomers struggle to translate inspiration into daily practice. The right tool could help transform that uncertainty into steady, sustainable growth.

Jeff Denton of UpStart Productions—a fellow member of the recovery community—recognized the same gap. While exploring available resources, he uncovered dozens of public-domain worksheets used by sponsors, counselors, and groups to guide step work. Over the summer of 2025, those worksheets became the blueprint for Nepho, a privacy-first mobile app crafted with Ionic and Angular.

Key Features:

• Private, offline journaling with secure local storage.
• Guided prompts that bring public-domain worksheets to life.
• Structured reflections that keep step work personal and actionable.
• Visual progress tracking that celebrates steady momentum.

Every interaction was designed to honor AA traditions while empowering individuals to proceed at their own pace—no social feeds, no pressure, just a calm space to do the work.

Nepho launched publicly on September 18, 2025, inviting people in recovery to explore the Twelve Steps with renewed focus and privacy.

• Launch milestone: Public release aligned with National Recovery Month, signaling a new kind of companion for step work.
• Early adoption: About 200 downloads in the first weeks, driven entirely by word of mouth.
• User sentiment: Feedback highlights a "simple" and "calming" experience that feels "exactly" right for private reflection.
• Roadmap: Upcoming updates will add spiritual reflections, gratitude prompts, and gentle gamification via Nepho Coins.

For early adopters, Nepho is already transforming uncertainty into measurable progress—quietly guiding them from curiosity to confident, consistent step work.

For people like Charles—and for anyone seeking spiritual renewal through the Twelve Steps—the hardest part is often knowing where to begin. Nepho removes that barrier, offering a gentle guide that keeps the focus on personal growth rather than public performance.

It is not a social network or a replacement for meetings and sponsorship. It is a private companion that turns timeless recovery wisdom into a modern, mindful experience—one that makes it easier to stay accountable, stay reflective, and stay sober.