From Biker Bars to Schools, Yondr Founder Sees Phone Pouches as 'Disrupting Impulses'

In recent years, students across the U.S. have been seen placing their mobile phones into brightly colored, magnetic Yondr pouches. As of last month, 36 states and the District of Columbia had implemented phone restrictions in K-12 schools, with 27 of them banning phones entirely from classrooms. Many schools now require students to leave their phones in Yondr pouches during the school day, costing roughly $30 per student per year.

While these pouches have been around for over ten years, their origin is unexpectedthey first appeared in an Oakland biker bar. Graham Dugoni, the creator, was inspired by thinkers like French philosopher Michel Foucault and English novelist George Orwell when developing the concept. Today, Dugoni sees the pouches as a simple, countercultural tool to encourage young people to explore new experiences and personal freedom.

Born in Oregon in 1986, Dugoni had a brief career in professional soccer before moving into finance in Atlanta. He described his early office life as Kafka-esque and spent his free time studying philosophy and teaching himself jazz piano. Philosophers such as Jean-Paul Sartre and Rollo May influenced his thoughts on technology and society, while jazz highlighted the value of self-expression.

The idea for Yondr crystallized in 2012 at a music festival in Californias Bay Area. Dugoni witnessed a concertgoer enjoying themselves while a stranger filmed them and uploaded the video online. Shocked, he envisioned creating phone-free spaces to protect privacy and foster authentic interaction. He realized that technology, while powerful, often comes at the cost of personal privacy and the ability to communicate freely in shared moments.

By 2014, Dugoni crafted the first magnetic pouches from hardware store materials and sold them directly to venues. His first customer was an Oakland biker bar aiming to prevent recordings of its performances. Around the same time, Dugoni secured his first school customer, and in 2015, interest from comedian Dave Chappelles team helped propel Yondr into public awareness. Today, Yondrs pouches are used by approximately 2.5 million students across all 50 states and 45 countries, with plans for expansion.

The COVID-19 pandemic shifted public attitudes toward screen time and technology in schools. Jonathan Haidts 2024 book, The Anxious Generation, further popularized the idea of phone-free classrooms. Yondr now employs around 150 people and has experienced sustained triple-digit growth in recent years. TIME recognized the pouches as one of the Best Inventions of 2024 under its Social Good category.

Students have come to appreciate the benefits of phone-free time, even if initially inconvenient. Teachers report improvements in engagement, classroom behavior, and social interaction. Dugoni describes the pouches as impulse disrupters that create a culture shift within schools, helping students develop focus, social skills, and personal identity.

Yondrs approach emphasizes choice, freedom, and a balance between technology and real-world experience. Dugoni highlights the importance of creating phone-free spaces as a way for young people to explore life without constant digital mediation. Even though some students attempt to bypass the system, the overall effect strengthens a schools phone-free culture.

Beyond schools, Dugoni views Yondr as fostering environments where genuine human experiences and privacy can coexist, countering the constant surveillance and digital pressures of modern life. He personally maintains strict tech boundaries, using a flip phone for a decade and keeping work and personal technology separated to preserve focus and clarity.

Ultimately, Yondr pouches are more than a toolthey are a cultural intervention designed to give students and others a space to think, connect, and engage in life without digital distractions.

Author: Sophia Brooks