The Starlings Blog

Thoughts on friendship,
memory, and staying close.

From the maker of Starlings — one person building tools for the people you care about.

Guide

What Is a Personal CRM and How to Use One to Follow Up

A personal CRM helps you remember what matters about the people you care about and actually stay in touch. Here's what one does, how to use it for follow-ups, and how to get started for free.

Hamza Atique· June 16, 2026· 7 min read
Story

Why I built a friendship tracker instead of using a notes app

Notes apps are great. But they don't know that the person in the note has a birthday next week, or that you haven't spoken in a month.

Hamza Atique· June 10, 2026· 5 min read
Guide

How to remember what matters about the people you love

A simple system for capturing details, stories, and moments before they slip away — and surfacing them when they count.

Hamza Atique· June 3, 2026· 7 min read
Review

The best personal CRM apps for iPhone in 2026

We tested every relationship manager on the App Store — Monica, Clay, Dex, and more — and compared them on the things that matter.

Hamza Atique· May 28, 2026· 10 min read
Privacy

Why your personal CRM shouldn't be in the cloud

Your relationship data is some of the most sensitive information you have. Here's why keeping it local isn't paranoia — it's common sense.

Hamza Atique· May 20, 2026· 6 min read
Guide

5 ways to be a better friend without becoming a robot

Using a system to track relationships sounds cold. Done right, it's the opposite — it frees you to show up fully when it matters.

Hamza Atique· May 12, 2026· 5 min read
Guide

The art of keeping in touch without losing your mind

You can't call everyone every week. But you also don't want to realize it's been eight months. Here's a cadence system that actually works.

Hamza Atique· May 5, 2026· 6 min read