Introduction

In today’s digital age, collaboration has become an essential aspect of productivity. With the rise of remote work and distributed teams, tools like Google Docs and Figma have revolutionized the way we collaborate on projects. However, there are still numerous applications where users cannot interact with colleagues, add notes, or engage in real-time discussions. That’s where Velt comes in – a startup that aims to level the playing field by providing a toolkit that allows developers to add collaborative features to their apps in under 30 minutes.

The Problem

Rakesh Goyal, the founder of Velt and a former Google Product Manager, realized the need for collaborative tools when he left Google in 2020. Initially focused on a different idea, the COVID pandemic forced him to work with a fully remote team. He was surprised to find that most tools lacked native collaboration features, requiring users to take screenshots and share them through Slack or other platforms.

The Solution

Velt’s JavaScript (JS) SDK allows developers to choose from a range of collaborative features, including contextual commenting, live walkthroughs, Loom-style recording capabilities, and Slack-style huddles. The toolkit is designed to be flexible and customizable, enabling developers to tailor the user interface to their specific needs.

Key Features

1. Contextual Commenting: AI-powered commenting system that categorizes comments into tags like ‘feature request,’ ‘feedback,’ or ‘bug.’
2. Live Walkthroughs: Figma-like feature that enables real-time collaboration and feedback.
3. Loom-Style Recording: Video recording capability with automatic transcription and summary generation.
4. Slack-Style Huddles: Real-time discussion platform for team members to collaborate and share ideas.

Roadmap

Goyal emphasizes the importance of AI in Velt’s future development, stating that it will play a significant role in enhancing human-to-human collaboration through contextual copilots and AI-infused features. The startup has dedicated a large part of its roadmap to integrating AI capabilities, enabling developers to create more intuitive and efficient collaborative experiences.

Investors and Team

Velt’s investors include YC, Spider Capital, Amino Capital, First Row Partners, and angel investors from Google, Stripe, SAP, and others. The 10-person team is remotely distributed across three countries – the U.S., U.K., and India.

Conclusion

Velt’s mission to level the playing field for collaborative features has the potential to revolutionize the way we work together. By providing a flexible and customizable toolkit, Velt enables developers to create more intuitive and efficient collaboration experiences. With AI at its core, Velt is poised to make a significant impact on the future of remote work and team collaboration.

Sources:

• Velt’s Website
• TechCrunch Article