Why I built Friends on File
Helping people remember what matters about the people who matter — backed by 28 years of CRM expertise.
My story
My wife was the one who remembered everything. After every dinner, every chance encounter, she'd recall the details — kids' names, travel plans, a parent's health update, someone's favourite meal. She made the people around us feel truly known. When she passed away, I didn't just lose my partner. I lost the person who held our entire social world together.
I tried keeping up on my own. Notes in my phone, scrolling through old messages before meeting friends. But the details kept slipping — not because I didn't care, but because remembering everything about everyone is genuinely hard. I started looking for tools that could help and found only professional CRMs designed for salespeople and networkers. Nothing built for real friendships.
I've spent 28 years in CRM and online marketing, with the last decade as a Salesforce Architect — building systems that help organisations know the people they serve. I knew the technology to solve this existed. So I taught myself to code and built Friends on File: a friendship app that helps you remember the details that matter about the people who matter most.
— Michiel van Gaalen, Founder
What I believe
Friendships deserve real effort
We invest heavily in our work relationships but leave our personal ones to memory alone. The people who sustain us deserve at least the same thoughtfulness.
Your memories belong to you
All your data is encrypted and private. I don't sell your information, and AI never trains on it. What you share with Friends on File stays yours.
Technology should disappear
The best tools are invisible. Log a quick note, glance at a profile before coffee, and let the AI handle the rest quietly in the background.
How Friends on File is different
Built for real friendships
Most personal CRMs are professional tools in disguise. I built Friends on File to help people maintain adult friendships — warm, complicated relationships that deserve more than a contact card.
European-built, globally minded
Based in the Netherlands with privacy by design and support for 10 languages. Friendship looks different around the world, and this app respects that.
AI that answers to you
AI extracts details and suggests talking points, but you always review and confirm. Nothing is saved to a friend's profile without your approval. You stay in control.
Ready to be the friend who remembers?
Start free in under a minute. No credit card required.