2
5 Comments

I built ACEGI.io to fix what email and DMs broke

Hey everyone — I’m Brendan, a software architect who got fed up with inbox overload.

Like a lot of you, I’ve missed real opportunities because they were buried under spam, bots, or “just a quick question” messages that weren’t quick at all. I’ve also had times I wanted to reach someone but had no way to stand out in their crowded inbox.

So I built ACEGI.io.

It’s a public profile that works like a link-in-bio—but with a twist:

People have to pay to message you.

You set the price.

If you reply, the thread stays open.

If you ignore it, the sender isn’t charged.

It’s a way for creators, consultants, and everyday professionals to stay reachable—without the noise.

Influencers can get serious messages from brands or collaborators.

Speakers can field meaningful questions after a talk.

Regular folks can stay open to recruiters and old colleagues—without drowning in junk.

We’re in early days, but the response has been encouraging.

I’d love any feedback from this community—and if you want to try it, it’s free to set up: https://acegi.io

  1. 1
    Curious what you've learned since posting this, Brendan. One distinction I'd test is willingness to pay versus relevance to the recipient: a well-funded generic pitch can clear a price gate while a useful introduction from someone early in their career may not. Could recipients specify a few requests they're open to, with a free route for those categories and paid requests outside them? I'd also make the charge trigger explicit: does a polite decline count as the reply that charges the sender? That expectation could matter as much as the price. Disclosure: I'm building Portunio in the same broader problem space, using a public AI address to help clarify an opportunity before the recipient decides. I haven't tested ACEGI; these are questions about the model you describe. Has charging changed the quality of conversations, or mainly their volume?
  2. 1

    Hey Brendan, this is super smart. this is exactly what a lot of us need! I’m a virtual assistant who helps founders like you stay focused by handling email, scheduling, and customer support. If you ever want to offload a few things while building, I’d love to support you for free while you grow. No pressure—just happy to help. Wishing you major success!

    1. 1

      This seriously made my day—thank you for the kind words and generous offer. I might just take you up on it as things get busier!

      Also… since you’re already helping founders stay sane, I have to invite you to set up an ACEGI profile. It’s free, and who knows—someone might want to pay to pick your brain next: https://acegi.io

      Let’s definitely stay in touch. Cheering you on too!

      1. 1

        Hey Brendan—excited to get started, but I ran into a snag: the “Sign Up” button on isn’t responding for me. Any chance there’s a workaround, or is the signup flow temporarily down? Just wanted to let you know. Thanks

        1. 1

          Thank you so much for flagging that! Totally embarrassing on my end (but very appreciated). 🙈

          I believe I’ve fixed the issue in production now — would you mind giving it another try? Should be smooth sailing from here. Really grateful you took the time to let me know. 🙏

          Looking forward to seeing you on ACEGI!

          https://acegi.io