Two Engineers Turned Lost Meeting Insights Into a $2.5M Startup Of Work Conversations

In January 2023, two software engineers, Ali Haghani, formerly of Stripe, and Kevin Jacyna, formerly of Tableau, embarked on a journey to solve a pervasive problem: the loss of valuable information shared in meetings. They began writing the first lines of code for Circleback, a platform designed to ensure no critical insight from a conversation goes unnoticed. Little did they know, their idea would soon evolve into a game-changing tool used by thousands and earn recognition from TIME as a top AI note-taking solution.

Circleback’s inception was inspired by the ever-growing capabilities of large language models, which Haghani and Jacyna saw as a golden opportunity to unlock the potential buried within conversations. By July 2023, they had left their jobs to fully dedicate themselves to Circleback, focusing on delivering high-quality meeting summaries and action items. The result? Notes so precise and actionable that customers often say they’re better than what they’d write themselves.

Fast forward to today, Circleback isn’t just about taking notes—it’s about transforming how teams operate. The platform enables users to retrieve critical information instantly and automate workflows based on meeting transcripts. Its features go beyond surface-level transcription tools like Otter and Fireflies, offering a holistic approach that prioritizes clarity and actionable insights.

This innovative approach has now earned Circleback $2.5 million in seed funding from Y Combinator, Rebel Fund, Pioneer Fund, Transpose Platform, and prominent angel investors like Kulveer Taggar, Oliver Jung, JJ Fliegelman, Rich Aberman, and Jason Freedman.

The Circleback Difference

Unlike competitors, Circleback doesn’t just transcribe meetings—it distills conversations into key takeaways, action items, and insights. “Meeting transcriptions are commonplace now, but Circleback’s value lies in the way it collates notes, action items, and next steps. When I saw meeting notes after using the tool, it felt like there was a human editor at play who curated key points,” said investor Kulveer Taggar, founder of Zeus Living.

The platform’s cross-platform availability on Mac, Windows, and the web ensures seamless integration into users’ workflows. Users can invite Circleback to join meetings or have it record audio, delivering detailed summaries within minutes after a meeting ends.

Beyond standard note-taking, Circleback has introduced “automations” that allow users to extract specific insights based on custom prompts. For instance, a user can request details about a customer and have them automatically added to a CRM or Notion database. “We realized that general notes were not going to serve all kinds of customers,” Haghani shared. “So we rolled out a feature called automations that extracts certain insights from every meeting based on your prompt.”

This customization is akin to creating IFTTT (If This Then That) recipes, adding significant flexibility to how organizations use Circleback.

The Road to Funding

Circleback’s funding success is a testament to its value proposition. Angel investors and venture funds were captivated by its ability to streamline meeting workflows and enhance productivity. Notably, the company achieved this milestone without relying heavily on external funding. Circleback is cashflow positive, and its founders opted for a modest seed round to avoid diluting equity.

Y Combinator’s Gustaf Alströmer, a group partner, played a pivotal role in supporting the company’s journey. This confidence in Circleback’s potential is reflected in its organic growth, with thousands of paying customers already on board.

Transforming Conversations into Action

Circleback’s feature set continues to evolve. Recent updates include automatic participant voice identification, custom meeting bot images for team plans, and enhanced search capabilities. Users can now tag upcoming meetings, create templates for automations, and access community-shared automation ideas.

The platform supports over 100 languages, ensuring inclusivity for global teams. Its ability to centralize knowledge—tracking entities like companies, people, and problems discussed in meetings—sets it apart in the competitive meeting intelligence space.

Competitors like Read AI may focus on creating overarching knowledge bases, but Circleback’s strength lies in its ability to extract and act on granular insights. “Our differentiation is that we are able to gather different entities that are being talked about in a meeting, whether that’s a company, a person, an action item, or a problem area in a centralized location,” said Haghani.

As AI transforms the workplace, Circleback is poised to remain at the forefront. Plans for iOS and Android apps aim to bring the power of AI to in-person conversations, while deeper integrations with tools like Google Calendar and Microsoft Outlook ensure seamless workflows.

For teams seeking to amplify productivity and unlock the full potential of their conversations, Circleback offers a glimpse into the future of work. Its founders, customers, and investors alike share an optimistic vision: one where no insight goes unnoticed and every meeting drives meaningful action.