Why RetainIQ exists

In 2013, Hermann Ebbinghaus proved that humans forget 90% of new information within a week unless it's actively reinforced. That research is over 130 years old. We've built entire industries around learning — but almost nothing around maintenance.

There are hundreds of apps to help you learn Spanish. Zero to help you not lose the Spanish you already have.

RetainIQ was built to fill that gap. It's not a learning platform. It's a maintenance system — for the skills, knowledge, and languages you've already invested time in.

The core mechanic is simple: we track when each skill was last used, calculate how much you're losing using the Ebbinghaus forgetting curve, and send you a targeted 3-minute exercise before the decay becomes irreversible.

The AI exercises are generated fresh every time — calibrated to your proficiency level and exactly which concept is slipping — so you're never wasting time on things you already remember well.

The science behind it

We use a hybrid model: the Ebbinghaus forgetting curve (R = e^(-t/S)) to estimate current retention in real time, and the SM-2 spaced repetition algorithm (the same one behind Anki) to schedule the next exercise at exactly the right moment.

As your retention score improves, the intervals between exercises grow longer. As it drops, exercises become more frequent and more fundamental. The system adapts automatically.

Built by one person

RetainIQ is an indie SaaS product built and maintained by a solo founder. It's not backed by VC money, doesn't have a growth team, and isn't optimized for engagement metrics. It's optimized for one thing: actually working.