Former Physician Introduces Robyn, an Empathetic Companion App

Jenny Shao, a former Harvard resident physician, has launched Robyn, a digital companion app designed to support emotional reflection. The iOS-based app guides users through conversations that help them understand their thoughts and behaviors over time.

During her residency, Shao saw how isolation affected patients’ emotional and neurological health. These experiences shaped her decision to leave medicine and create Robyn. “As a physician, I have seen things go badly when tech companies try to replace your doctor. Robyn is and won’t ever be a clinical [replacement]. … You can think of Robyn as your emotionally intelligent partner,” Shao said.

The app’s onboarding process asks users about their goals, tone preferences, and emotional traits. Robyn then maintains memory across chats, recalling past topics and identifying recurring patterns. It helps users reflect on emotional traits such as attachment style and love language. Robyn is built to provide consistent, contextual support without replacing therapy or medical care.

Shao’s medical background and research in human memory informed the app’s design. Before launching Robyn, she worked in neurology under Nobel Laureate Eric Kandel, studying how memory processes affect behavior. That experience helped shape the system’s structure and focus on continuity in interaction.