What Happens When a Black Woman Has Time? Ask the Creator of FlixMate

After 26 years of federal service as a senior designer, Dr. Donnisha Davis was forced into early retirement. Her departure from her job wasn’t part of the plan, but it gave her time. With support from her husband and space to focus, she turned her full attention to a side project they’d been building together: an app called FlixMate.

FlixMate, which officially launches Nov. 1, is a film and TV discovery platform that allows users to track what they watch, share recommendations, and discover content through a social feed designed to center culture and connection. Davis describes it as a space that reflects real-life conversations about entertainment. “Other apps try to get into being more social and having a social feed because of the fact that we like to talk about the BET Awards in real time,” she said.

One of the app’s most practical features is its ability to help users find something to watch when the endless options become overwhelming. “Decision fatigue is very real in our household,” she said. “I am flexible with what I watch depending on my mood, but my husband spends time looking for the perfect thing. That showed us how overwhelming choice can be.”

That fatigue is something most viewers can relate to. With more content than ever and limited time to watch it, the process of deciding what to play can zap all the joy out of the experience. This platform aims to solve that by focusing less on what’s trending globally and more on what resonates within your circle.

It also offers the opportunity to track progress — how many episodes you’ve watched, or how long it took you to finish a series — and allows users to link streaming accounts and get personalized recommendations. The design intentionally encourages users to engage with content in a way that feels communal. For Davis, this is the direction entertainment has been moving toward. “We missed real conversation with people who actually know you,” she said. “We created FlixMate to bring that back.”

And while the app is built for anyone, she’s excited about what it can mean for Black users in particular. “We’re for the culture,” she said. “And if anyone asks what culture, all of them.”

Part of what sets the platform apart from others is its intention to include lesser-known and independent titles in the conversation. “You don’t know what you don’t know,” Davis said. “And we want to make sure you know.” Users will be able to follow friends and see what’s trending among their friends and family, rather than what’s being pushed to the top of an algorithm.

As the project grows, Davis says the team is thinking about how to bring in creators and real-world interactions. She envisions in-person activations, partnerships with educators and wellness leaders, and playlist-style recommendations that help users connect emotionally to what they’re watching. When I asked if she hoped the app could be the next iteration of Black Twitter-style discourse around film and television, her response was clear: yes. 

For Davis, building FlixMate is not just a response to a gap in the market. It’s a reflection of the wave of Black women who lost their jobs this year. “I was one of the ones that was forced out,” she said. “They let me go and didn't even tell me thank you.” Despite the dangerous impact of Black women leaving the workforce against their will there’s at least one silver living: what happens when Black women have space to dream and execute. Davis sees the shift as a blessing in disguise. “I have not worked in an office since June,” she said. “I have time.”