In the era of remote work, meeting productivity has become a pressing concern for organizations around the globe. Addressing this challenge head-on is Supernormal, an innovative AI-powered tool designed to revolutionize the way meetings are conducted, captured, and utilized. Co-founded by Colin Treseler, Supernormal enhances productivity and reduces stress by automating the note-taking process and much more, offering a solution that is becoming indispensable for modern work environments.
The Genesis of Supernormal
Colin Treseler’s Background and Inspiration
Colin Treseler’s remarkable journey to founding Supernormal is rooted in a lifetime steeped in a culture of excellence and competitive learning. Growing up in Boston, Colin was profoundly influenced by his father, who was an Olympic running coach. This environment, filled with top-notch Kenyan athletes who frequented their home, instilled in him a deep and lasting thirst for learning and an unwavering drive for excellence. This foundational experience shaped his approach to both personal and professional challenges, driving him to consistently seek out opportunities for growth and improvement.
His early years were characterized by competitive dinners that were brimming with ideas and knowledge, fostering a broad and introspective perspective on the world. This unique upbringing cultivated a rigorous intellectual capacity and a well-rounded approach to life. These formative experiences and the values they instilled would later play a crucial role in his entrepreneurial journey, particularly in the creation and development of Supernormal.
From Dartmouth to Entrepreneurship
Colin’s academic and athletic pursuits at Dartmouth College laid the crucial groundwork for his professional journey. As a rower at Dartmouth, Colin honed qualities such as persistence, discipline, and teamwork—skills that would prove invaluable throughout his career. However, a back injury forced him to pivot from rowing to sailing, a switch that underscored to him the importance of communication and teamwork in achieving success. This significant transition highlighted the adaptability and resilience needed to navigate both setbacks and new opportunities.
Colin’s entry into the tech world began in a rather unconventional manner when he landed a job at a small startup in Boston through a Craigslist ad. Despite the untraditional start, this experience ignited his passion for entrepreneurship and set him on a path toward innovation in technology. Over the years, he gained expertise in technology and product design while working at high-growth companies like Klarna and Facebook. These experiences provided him with valuable insights into the inefficiencies within organizations, particularly related to meetings and communication, ultimately leading him to co-found Supernormal.
The Birth of Supernormal
Identifying Inefficiencies in Organizations
By 2019, Colin had accumulated extensive knowledge and understanding of the inefficiencies that hampered productivity in organizations. He noticed that meetings, in particular, were often conducted and documented in ways that were far from optimal. This realization led him to envision a tool that could fundamentally reimagine how teams communicate and collaborate. Along with co-founder Fabian Perez, Colin set out to create Supernormal with the objective of addressing these inefficiencies head-on.
The initial concept for Supernormal was to eliminate the need for manual note-taking during meetings, a task that was both time-consuming and prone to error. By automating this process, Supernormal aimed to free up time and mental bandwidth for more strategic tasks. This vision quickly resonated with a broad audience, particularly as the COVID-19 pandemic brought about a widespread shift to remote work. The need for efficient and effective virtual meetings became paramount, accelerating the adoption of Supernormal across a variety of organizations.
The Core Mission and Early Success
From its inception, Supernormal’s core mission has been to eliminate the burdensome task of manual note-taking during meetings. This concept addressed a key pain point for many professionals, making the tool immediately appealing to users. In just a short period, Supernormal’s user base grew exponentially, underscoring the widespread need for such a solution.
Today, Supernormal serves over 365,000 organizations across 150 countries, becoming an indispensable tool for many. The app’s intuitive design and efficient functionality made it popular among a diverse range of users, from small startups to large multinational corporations. Its success has been fueled by its ability to seamlessly integrate into existing workflows, providing immediate and tangible benefits to its users. This widespread adoption is a testament to the app’s utility and Colin’s keen insight into what organizational leaders and team members truly need to enhance productivity.
The Evolution of Supernormal
Introducing “Norma,” the AI Assistant
Under Colin’s visionary leadership, Supernormal has evolved substantially, moving beyond merely automating note-taking. A significant milestone in this evolution was the introduction of “Norma,” an advanced AI assistant. Norma represents a leap forward in AI capabilities, designed to join meetings, answer questions, and brainstorm ideas in real-time. This feature transforms Norma into a super-charged colleague who remembers every detail of past meetings and offers insights and follow-up reminders.
Norma’s integration into the meeting workflow allows participants to be more engaged and focused on the content of discussions rather than on capturing notes. By handling these mundane tasks, Norma enables team members to devote their attention to more strategic and meaningful work. This shift not only enhances individual productivity but also improves overall team effectiveness. The introduction of Norma underscores Supernormal’s commitment to leveraging AI to create a more effective and less stressful work environment.
Enhancing Productivity and Creativity
Norma’s capabilities extend far beyond traditional note-taking, allowing users to engage in more creative and strategic activities. This human-centric approach to AI means that Norma adapts to the specific context of an organization, tailoring her solutions to meet the unique needs of each team. This adaptability makes interacting with Norma feel more like engaging with a trusted teammate rather than a mechanical bot, fostering a more productive and collaborative atmosphere.
Whether summarizing past meetings, helping to brainstorm product names, or providing insights into project progress, Norma contributes significantly to enhancing workplace productivity and creativity. By reducing the cognitive load associated with routine tasks, Norma frees up time for employees to focus on innovative and strategic endeavors. This not only leads to better outcomes but also promotes a more fulfilling and satisfying work experience. Supernormal’s evolution with Norma at its core exemplifies how AI can be harnessed to support and enhance human capabilities in meaningful ways.
The Future of Supernormal
Task Execution and Beyond
Looking ahead, Colin and his team have grand visions for the future of Supernormal. They envision a future where AI doesn’t just assist with tasks but actively works alongside humans, handling an even broader range of responsibilities. The next iteration of Supernormal aims to push the boundaries of task execution, enabling Norma to take on roles such as handling follow-ups, drafting emails, scheduling meetings, and generating creative content automatically. This advancement would mark a significant leap in the functionality and utility of AI in the workplace.
By automating these additional tasks, Supernormal aims to further streamline workflows and enhance productivity, allowing team members to focus on higher-level strategic initiatives. This vision aligns with the broader goal of reducing the time spent on mundane activities, thereby increasing the overall efficiency and effectiveness of organizations. Colin and his team’s commitment to continuous improvement and innovation ensures that Supernormal will remain at the forefront of AI-driven productivity tools, shaping the future of work in profound ways.
Shifting Focus from Time Spent to Time Saved
Colin’s previous work at Facebook centered on optimizing time spent on apps, but with Supernormal, his focus has significantly shifted to time saved. This paradigm shift is reflective of a broader understanding of the real value that technology should deliver—freeing up time for more meaningful engagement and creative pursuits. It underscores the importance of designing tools that not only enhance productivity but also contribute to a better quality of life for their users.
By focusing on time saved rather than time spent, Supernormal aims to deliver tangible benefits that extend beyond mere efficiency. This approach emphasizes the value of creating time for employees to engage in more fulfilling and enriching activities, both professionally and personally. The shift from optimizing time on screen to freeing up time off-screen reflects a deeper commitment to enhancing well-being and promoting a healthy work-life balance. This focus is a key differentiator for Supernormal, positioning it as a leader in the field of AI-driven productivity solutions.
Colin Treseler’s Philosophy and Advice
The Value of Time
Throughout his journey, Colin Treseler has remained steadfast in his belief that time is the most valuable resource we have. This philosophy is deeply ingrained in the DNA of Supernormal and extends to his advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. Colin emphasizes the importance of taking care of oneself and maintaining balance in all aspects of life. He believes that personal well-being is critical to achieving professional success and that one’s best work is done when they are balanced and present.
Colin advises against the common entrepreneurial pitfall of sacrificing sleep, health, and relationships in the pursuit of progress. He argues that a well-rounded life fuels better performance and creativity, leading to more sustainable and impactful success. This holistic approach to entrepreneurship underscores the importance of valuing time not just as a resource for productivity but also as a fundamental component of overall well-being and fulfillment.
Balancing Work and Life
Balancing the demands of building a startup with personal well-being is a recurring theme in Colin’s philosophy. Despite the frenetic pace and demands of entrepreneurship, he highlights the importance of maintaining a sense of balance and presence. This balance is crucial for sustaining the energy and creativity needed to drive innovation and achieve long-term success. Colin’s approach to balancing work and life serves as a powerful reminder that true progress is measured not just by professional achievements but also by personal fulfillment and well-being.
He cautions that neglecting personal health and relationships for the sake of work can lead to burnout and diminished performance. Instead, he advocates for a holistic approach that integrates personal and professional aspirations. By fostering a balanced and well-rounded life, individuals can tap into their full potential, achieving greater heights both in their careers and personal lives. Colin’s commitment to this philosophy is evident in the design and functionality of Supernormal, which aims to improve productivity while also promoting a healthier and more balanced work-life dynamic.
Conclusion
In today’s era of remote work, ensuring meeting productivity has become a significant challenge for businesses worldwide. Enter Supernormal, an AI-powered tool that aims to transform how meetings are conducted, documented, and used. Co-founded by Colin Treseler, Supernormal addresses this pressing issue by automating the note-taking process, thus boosting productivity and minimizing stress for employees.
Supernormal is not just about taking notes. It leverages advanced AI to capture key meeting points, action items, and decisions, ensuring all essential information is well-documented and easily accessible for future reference. This tool proves especially valuable in remote work settings where maintaining clear and effective communication is crucial. It enables teams to focus on discussing strategy and solving problems rather than worrying about jotting down every detail.
By integrating Supernormal into their workflow, organizations can foster a more efficient and less stressful meeting environment. As a modern solution for today’s work challenges, Supernormal is quickly becoming indispensable in ensuring meetings are not just more productive, but also less burdensome for everyone involved.
