Online collaboration has become commonplace, thanks to productivity applications like Google Docs and team design platform Figma. However, many internet-connected applications lack the ability for users to interact, add notes, or collaborate effectively. Addressing this gap is the mission of a new startup named Velt, which has introduced a toolkit enabling developers to integrate collaborative features into their apps in less than 30 minutes.
Backed by Y Combinator, Velt aims to democratize collaboration by allowing developers to selectively incorporate features that suit their needs. These include contextual commenting akin to Google Docs, live walkthroughs similar to Figma, recording features reminiscent of Loom, or huddle functionalities resembling Slack. To support its endeavors, the startup has secured $2.77 million in seed funding.
Founded by former Google Product Manager Rakesh Goyal, Velt originated from his dissatisfaction with the collaborative tools available after leaving Google in 2020. He observed that many tools required users to resort to screenshots and external communication channels like Slack, leading to a lack of engagement and user frustration. Furthermore, collaborative features were often expensive and challenging for developers to implement and maintain.
Velt pivoted to address these issues, developing a set of developer tools that seamlessly blend in-person and online experiences. Utilizing Velt’s JS SDK, developers can choose specific features—such as commenting, huddles, or video and voice recording—and customize the user interface to suit their platforms.
AI plays a significant role in Velt’s features, automating tasks like transcript generation and comment categorization. A unique feature, the “contextual copilot,” facilitates human-to-AI collaboration by allowing prompts for tasks like copywriting, website design, video editing, and data interaction.
Velt currently caters to three main verticals: creative tools, business analytics tools, and CRM tools. The company’s primary use cases include website builders, video editing tools, and CRM or task management tools. They also offer a product called Superflow, designed for marketing agencies collaborating on design and marketing assets with clients.
While Velt doesn’t disclose specific customer numbers or revenue, it reports doubling revenue in the past two months. Pricing starts at $999 per month for up to 5,000 monthly active users, with custom pricing for larger clients.
Velt’s seed round, closed in March, attracted investors such as YC, Spider Capital, Amino Capital, First Row Partners, and angel investors from Google, Stripe, SAP, and others. The 10-person team operates remotely across three countries: the U.S., U.K., and India. Goyal emphasizes the crucial role AI will play in Velt’s future, envisioning enhanced human-to-human collaboration and deeper integration of AI into contextual copilots.
