The Best OKR Software Is the One That Helps You Hit Your Goals”: A Q&A with Steven Macdonald, Founder of OKRs Tool

In the crowded space of OKR software, OKRs Tool stands out for its sharp focus on startups. We sat down with founder Steven Macdonald to talk about why he built the platform, the struggles he faced running OKRs in the past, and how his product is reshaping goal-setting for fast-moving teams.

Q: Steven, let’s start with your journey. Why build an OKR platform in the first place?

Steven: For three years, I ran OKRs inside Basecamp. And if you’re thinking, “Wait, that’s not OKR software,” you’re right. At first it worked – our team was small, updates were manageable, and goals felt clear enough. But as we grew, it fell apart. Updates went stale. Progress was hard to track. Alignment slipped.

Eventually, we found ourselves halfway through the quarter asking: “What are we even aiming for?” We weren’t failing because of effort – we were failing because we didn’t have a system built for how startups actually work. That’s when I knew something had to change.

Q: So OKRs Tool was born from frustration?

Steven: Exactly. I didn’t want to just patch the problem with another spreadsheet template or project management hack. Startups need clarity, accountability, and alignment – but without the heavy, enterprise-style software that slows you down.

So I built OKRs Tool: a lightweight, intuitive OKR platform designed specifically for startups. Something easy to start with, affordable to scale, and powerful enough to keep teams moving fast.

Q: You’ve mentioned you tested a lot of tools. What did you learn from that process?

Steven: I signed up for every OKR platform I could find – not demos, but real accounts. I set objectives, tracked key results, ran updates, and lived inside the software.

What I found was this: most tools were built for enterprises. They were heavy, complicated, and priced for big budgets. Startups don’t have time for that. They need something they can adopt in minutes, not months. And they need pricing that doesn’t punish them for growing.

That research shaped everything about OKRs Tool – our design, our pricing, our focus.

Q: What makes OKRs Tool different from the WorkBoards, BetterWorks, and Lattices of the world?

Steven: Simplicity. We don’t overwhelm you with features you’ll never use. With OKRs Tool, you can create OKRs in minutes, run lightweight weekly check-ins, and track progress visually.

We integrate with tools startups already use, like Slack, so updates don’t feel like extra work. And our pricing is flat and team-based, so you don’t get penalized for adding users.

Our focus is execution. We give startups just enough structure to scale without slowing them down.

Q: Who is OKRs Tool built for?

Steven: Founders, CEOs, and startup teams who are tired of juggling goals in spreadsheets or project tools.

• Early-stage startups who want an easy way to implement OKRs.
• Growing teams who need alignment without extra overhead.
• Bootstrapped or funded startups looking for an affordable, scalable solution.

Basically, if you’re a startup moving fast, OKRs Tool was built with you in mind.

Q: Some teams still try to manage OKRs in tools like Notion or Google Sheets. What’s your take?

Steven: Those tools can work – at least for a while. But they’re not designed for OKRs. You end up with scattered updates, inconsistent tracking, and a lot of manual effort.

Dedicated OKR software solves that by giving you structure, visibility, and accountability out of the box. It saves time and keeps teams focused on what actually matters.

Q: What’s next for OKRs Tool and OKR software in general?

Steven: The future is AI-driven goal-setting and smarter automation. With OKRs Tool, we’re already rolling out AI recommendations to help teams set better objectives, automate progress tracking, and spot risks early.

But the real focus for us is keeping startups lean and aligned. The best OKR software is the one you actually use – the one that helps you hit your goals, not just set them.

Q: Final question: if you had one piece of advice for a startup considering OKRs, what would it be?

Steven: Start early. Don’t wait until you’re 50 people and struggling with silos. The earlier you build clarity and alignment into your culture, the faster you’ll scale.

And this isn’t just theory. In our recent study of 200 startups, 90% told us they wished they’d started sooner – many over a year sooner. The takeaway is clear: OKRs work best when you roll them out early, keep them simple, and make them a weekly habit.

If you’re between 4 and 10 people, that’s the perfect time to start. Build the habit before chaos sets in. It’ll save you time, align your team, and keep you focused on the work that actually drives growth.