I built a research tool for thesis writing that only cites sources you upload
Greetings from austria!
before i start, something about me:
I finished my Bachelor's degree at 35. Married, one small kid, 15 years in IT. And I still remember staring at a blank page for two months, completely blocked, no idea how to structure my thesis or find the red thread in my research.
That frustration stayed with me. Eventually I asked myself: what if you could use AI without hallucinations? What if it could help you understand your own sources instead of inventing new ones?
So I built Academly. Not to write your thesis for you. It's a tool that helps you find structure and work with your own sources. Citations come directly from the PDFs you upload, including exact page numbers. The idea is simple: you get a suggestion with original quotes from your cited sources showing how a chapter could look. You read it, and you write your own version.
What's possible right now:
- Upload PDFs, generate Theory & Background sections with real page-accurate citations
- Methods & Approach builder where you can integrate your own research steps
- Document summaries with selectable page ranges
- AI Supervisor Chat for research guidance and Q&A
- Topic Explorer and Research Setup tools
- Citation support: APA7 (Harvard, Chicago, MLA coming)
On the AI criticism:
Yes this uses AI. I'll be honest, the possibility to misuse it exists. But this isn't a ghostwriter or a "one click write my thesis" tool. It helps you find the red thread, understand your sources, and write more accurately based on what you uploaded. No invented authors, no hallucinated references.
Every professional uses AI tools daily. The question isn't whether students should use AI, it's how to use it responsibly.
Who this is for:
Bachelor's and Master's students across any discipline. Ideally someone currently writing a thesis, preferably qualitative methods but quantitative users are welcome too (that module is still in development). PhD students may find the output depth underwhelming, wanted to be upfront about that.
Whats on my mind, what could possibly be next:
- Quantitative Analysis Module (not there yet, want to build this with people who actually need it)
- Community layer for students to connect and find study partners
- Student Life Organizer for assignments and deadlines
- Speech-to-text for interviews
What I'm actually asking for:
I have a wife, a small kid, ongoing infrastructure costs and a full-time job. I need to decide whether to keep going or not. That decision depends on whether this actually helps anyone.
I'm not looking for people who will blindly love it. I want people who will use it and tell me honestly what's missing or unnecessary.
Beta is free, limited to 100 spots. You can DM me or join our Discord (on Website in the footer section).
Thanks for your feedback!