Unplugged- Refresh your mind, not your browser.

Inboxes are overflowing, social media feeds bombard and the noise of living in the year 2023 overwhelms -- Hector Hughes finds himself in a contrasting space.  As Co-founder of Unplugged, Hector is on a mission to help people rediscover the joy of disconnecting. 

Imagine yourself in a wholesome cabin nestled in the countryside, your awareness extended to every sound nature produces, your shoulders are relaxed and you inhale deeply. Welcome to Unplugged, a startup that offers you digital detox experiences with a unique approach. 

Imagine yourself in a wholesome cabin nestled in the countryside, your awareness extended to every sound nature produces, your shoulders are relaxed and you inhale deeply. Welcome to Unplugged, a startup that offers you digital detox experiences with a unique approach.

In 2019, Hector stumbled upon the book Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport, which introduced him to the joys of spending time offline. The decision to participate in a silent retreat in the Himalayas soon followed. For 10 days, he disconnected from the world, reconnected with nature and made the journey to a Buddhist temple at the top of a mountain. Inspired by the transformative power of this experience, Hector made the life-altering decision to quit his job.

Then

At this stage a former colleague turned friend, Ben Elliott had also left the previous startup he worked for, and the synergy between the two reignited. This inevitably led to a new idea; combining get-away cabins and digital detoxing to create Unplugged. “Getting people offline and into nature” formed the cornerstone of their idea.

The tiny-house movement - an architectural and social movement that advocates for downsizing living spaces, simplifying, and essentially "living with less”, catalyzed the idea of get-away cabins. They incorporated the cabin into their business model; it is cost-effective (especially as it is considered “tax appealing”) and aesthetically pleasing. To really drive change within society and ensure that people benefit from it, they sought to infuse it with a touch of modernity, similar to how Tesla revolutionized electric cars.

In 2020 the clearest path to get from zero to one for Unplugged, was to own their first cabin, then attain land to foster the cabin and above all - to never give up. The latter was put to the test as soon as COVID-19 and lockdown loomed.  

Starting from scratch, Hector and Ben faced plenty of challenges. Despite their limited knowledge about cabins and land, they took a leap of faith and collaborated with a Swedish company to design their initial cabin. To fund their venture, they pooled resources from friends, family, angel investors, and even obtained a Virgin startup loan. For Unplugged, triumphs (luckily) reigned supreme over hindrances.

NOW

With 20 cabins across the UK they offer people a get-away mission without digital distraction. The business has come a long way since its humble beginnings in an apartment. They have expanded their reach beyond London and plan to launch in Manchester, Bristol, and Edinburgh in the near future. They are committed to long-term sustainability. Rather than viewing it as a short-term venture, Hector and his team envision building a business that endures for decades, continually improving.

Hector firmly believes in the power of individuals and small groups to shape society positively. Unplugged offers an opportunity to move society away from excessive screen time towards a healthier, more balanced lifestyle. Maybe digital detoxes will become the norm — what do you think?

Take a look at this review clip posted by Loz’s Leisure and make the decision yourself.