Folded Notes

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Inspiration Queer support often exists in fragments: a late-night text to a friend, a Reddit post from years ago, a hotline you’re too nervous to call. We wanted to build something softer and more human: a place where queer people could speak without being seen, listen without being judged, and feel less alone in moments that are hard to articulate. Folded Notes is inspired by the idea that survival wisdom doesn’t always come from experts, it comes from people who’ve already lived through what you’re facing.

What it does Folded Notes is a voice-only, anonymous peer support hotline for queer folks. Callers can leave voice messages to vent, share hope, ask questions, or simply exist out loud. Using AI-detected themes (like coming-out anxiety, family rejection, transition questions, or dating struggles) and emotions, the platform matches callers with anonymous messages from others who’ve been through similar experiences. Voice morphing protects anonymity while preserving emotional tone, so messages still feel real and human. With no visual interface, the platform works while walking, lying in bed, or during moments of panic when looking at a screen feels like too much. Need a physical component? Our hardware component makes you feel better through giving tailored vibrations that mimic a human heartbeat.

How we built it We built the backend using MongoDB to store encrypted voice notes alongside Gemini-powered semantic classification. Gemini handles emotion detection and voice matching, surfacing messages that feel emotionally relevant to the listener. A lightweight voice pipeline powered by ElevenLabs handles recording, transcription, and text-to-speech generation, preserving anonymity without flattening expression. Cursor was used for animations and UI transitions. The entire experience is designed to rely on both visuals and audio to construct the emotional space around the user.

Challenges we ran into Designing for emotional safety without over-moderating was difficult. We had to think carefully about how AI categorizes sensitive content without mislabeling or silencing it. Maintaining anonymity while still enabling meaningful matching required careful trade-offs, especially around voice processing. We also had to resist the urge to add features that would have made the platform louder or more performative instead of supportive. We also struggled with using the available hardware to create the vibrational haptic device and connecting it to the website, but this learning curve was easily overcome through teamwork and help from mentors!

Accomplishments that we’re proud of

Creating a fully voice-only experience that feels intimate, not isolating.
Building anonymous matching that prioritizes shared experience over demographics.
Designing a system where users can give support even when they don’t feel strong themselves.
Centering queer emotional reality without requiring explanation or justification.
Creating not only a visual and voice aspect, but also a touch aspect to our design to aid anyone who needs tactile feedback.

What we learned We learned that anonymity can be a form of care, not distance. Voice carries vulnerability in a way text can’t even when the speaker is disguised. We also learned that AI can be used gently: not to replace human connection, but to help people find it. Most importantly, we learned that sometimes people don’t need answers, they just need to be heard.

What’s next for Folded Notes Next, we want to expand moderation tools designed with the community, not imposed on it. We’re exploring opt-in live listening windows, multilingual support, and partnerships with existing queer support organizations. Long-term, we envision Folded Notes as a growing archive of queer resilience: a place where no one has to start from silence.