I've been sitting on this post for weeks. Every time I opened the draft I just closed it again. Asking for help is not something that comes naturally, especially when you're used to solving problems by shipping code. But I'm at the end of my options right now, and more than anything, I need God's help through all of this.
I've been unemployed for nine months now. Nine months of applications going unanswered, interviews that go nowhere, and trying to stay strong for my wife and kids while our savings have steadily run dry. We're behind on rent and facing a very real risk of eviction. It's as serious as it sounds.
How we got here
None of this was planned. I had a good job, was building things I was proud of, and taking care of my family. Then the tech layoffs came, the market turned tough, and the skills that had always kept me employed weren't enough anymore. Every solid job posting gets flooded with hundreds of applicants.
In the middle of it all, I kept building. That's how Mnemosyne went from a late-night side project to something real. I put everything I had into it: clean architecture, fast performance, solid tests. I made it completely free and open source because I believe your AI memory should stay on your own machine, under your control, not trapped in someone else's cloud. I still believe that strongly.
We've already received real help along the way. Donations from kind people, support from family, and especially tremendous help from one very close friend who stepped up multiple times with rent when things got tight. We've used up all our savings too. But everything has now been exhausted. I can't keep going back to the same people over and over while we wait for this difficult season to pass.
This is a corporate-owned apartment complex, so there's very little room for negotiation. Everything gets sent up to corporate, and they tend to follow the same process no matter what. We're running out of time.
What I'm actually asking
God, I really dislike this part. I've never been comfortable asking for things, especially money. This project was meant to be my gift to the community, not something that turned into a fundraiser. But right now, keeping a roof over my kids' heads is what matters most.
If Mnemosyne has ever helped you, saved you time, made your agents better, or if you believe in local, private, open-source AI tools, anything you can give would mean the world. Even small amounts add up.
We already have a goal set up on my Ko-fi page, and we're now about 44% of the way there thanks to incredible people who stepped up. If you're able to help, you can go straight to the Ko-fi page here: ko-fi.com/axdsan .
Update: We're getting there, together
I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has donated so far. Your generosity has been overwhelming. From small contributions to larger ones, every single one has helped push us from 25% to 44% of our goal. You are literally keeping a roof over my family's head.
I want to be completely transparent: we're still going through it. The situation hasn't magically resolved. We're still behind, still worried, still fighting. But because of you, we have breathing room we didn't have before, and that means everything.
Here's what I want you to know: I am still building Mnemosyne every day. I haven't stopped. While I'm trying to meet the immediate needs of my family, I'm also pushing forward on the next version: better memory architecture, faster retrieval, cleaner docs, and new features that make local AI memory even more powerful. This project is my commitment to all of you, and I'm not walking away from it.
If you haven't donated yet and you're able to, we still need help to close the gap. If you already have, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Either way, you're part of this community, and that matters to me.
This isn't a startup pitch. There's no fancy deck or promises of future riches. It's just a dad trying to keep his family in their home while continuing to build something he believes in.
Other ways to help (that cost nothing)
If money is tight for you right now (and I know times are hard for many), there are still meaningful things you can do:
- Star the repo on GitHub. github.com/AxDSan/mnemosyne - it helps more people find the project.
- Share this post or the project on X, Discord, or wherever you hang out.
- Open an issue, report a bug, suggest a feature, or just say hello. Knowing people are actually using it keeps me motivated.
- Tell a friend who's into agents or local AI.
What happens next
I'm going to keep building no matter what. It's one of the few things I can still control. The next version is already in progress with better import/export tools, more embedding options, cleaner docs, and a refreshed site. The work helps keep me grounded.
But I'm not going to pretend things are okay. We're scared. A little breathing room to catch up on rent and calm the late-night worry would change everything for us.
I don't know exactly how this chapter ends, but I'm praying it ends with us still in our home, me still coding, and this community continuing to grow. That's the outcome I'm fighting for.
Thank you for reading this.
Thank you for using Mnemosyne, for the stars, the feedback, and the
kind words. They have meant more than you know.
With everything I have,
Abdias (AJ)