diff --git a/apps/web/content/articles/why-we-burned-it-down.mdx b/apps/web/content/articles/why-we-burned-it-down.mdx new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..b995bd161a --- /dev/null +++ b/apps/web/content/articles/why-we-burned-it-down.mdx @@ -0,0 +1,229 @@ +--- +display_title: "Why We Burned It Down - John's POV (the chaos)" +meta_title: "Why We Burned It Down and Rebuilt Hyprnote From Scratch" +meta_description: "The messy truth about why we rewrote Hyprnote. No product philosophy, too many pivots, motion without progress—and how we finally got focused." +author: "John Jeong" +created: "2025-11-10" +coverImage: "https://ijoptyyjrfqwaqhyxkxj.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/public_images/blog/why-we-burned-it-down/cover.png" +--- + +### tl;dr +We didn't rewrite Hyprnote because it was smart strategy. +We rewrote it because what we built before was confused. +And the only way to fix it was to burn it down. + +### The Early Mess + +When Yujong and I started, we weren't working on Hyprnote. +We were trying to build an AI hardware toy that talks to kids. +But hardware was slow. Brutal. Not something two people could actually ship fast.. + +So we pivoted to software. + +I'd spent a lot of time in meetings, trying AI notetakers like Clovanote. +None of them captured nuance — the difference between "ok" and "OK!" matters when you're selling. +I wanted something stupidly simple, clean, fast. Something I'd actually use. +That was the spark for Hyprnote. + +### Shiny Tech. No Philosophy. + +Early on, we got distracted. +We picked Tauri because it felt cool. +We said "let's do local-first everything" because it sounded clever. +Transcription, LLM, cloud, BYOK, lifetime license… everything. + +We had no product philosophy. +No sharp segment. +Just vibes. + +People liked it at first. Open source folks said they'd use it over Granola just because it was open source. That gave us confidence… but also made us more confused. + +Local-first ≠ open source. +They're adjacent. Not the same. +And we never picked a lane. + +### YC Made It Worse + +Then Y Combinator happened. +And this is where we stopped thinking straight. + +Our group partners kept asking the right questions. Every single time. + +The question that we struggled the most was: + +> Who are your users? + +We said that we were focusing on enterprise — but we weren't sure. +We were still trying to figure out who we should be selling to: banks, defense, military, or whatever. + +They weren't the problem. We were. +Instead of slowing down to reflect, we tried to answer immediately. +We mistook speed for clarity. + +As James from Pioneer Fund told me: + +> Don't mistake motion for progress. + +He said it's written on his son's door. +We fell into that trap hard. + +We were moving fast. +Just in 12 different directions at once. +Vectors everywhere. + +### Too Much Logic. Too Much Talking. Too Little Clarity. + +We debated everything. Local vs cloud. Enterprise vs prosumer. Bottom-up vs top-down. +We tried to _logic_ our way into clarity. +You can't. + +Add hiring on top of that and it got worse. +Too many opinions. Too much communication overhead. +Alignment took forever. We moved slower, not faster. + +Honestly, YC was a wake-up call for me on hiring. +I'm not hiring again for a while. Just me and Yujong now — and we're moving faster than ever. + +### Investors Pushed One Way. My Gut Said Another. + +Early angels pushed the "local-first enterprise" angle. +"Regulated industries love data sovereignty." +And yeah, they do. But enterprise ≠ local-first. +They care about compliance, SOC2, consent, legal — we weren't ready for any of that. + +And the whole time, my gut said: +Build for people like you. +Busy individuals who live in meetings and want a tool that just _works_. + +I ignored my gut for months. That was on me. + +### The Product Rotted + +Because we never picked a path, we tried to build everything: + +- Local speech-to-text +- Local LLM +- Bring-your-own-endpoints +- owhisper +- Admin server +- Hybrid setups no one fully understood + +It became this big, over-engineered pile of "potential" that felt bad to use. +The codebase was tangled. The design was directionless. +I didn't even like opening our own app anymore. + +### Motion Isn't Progress + +For months, I was obsessed with motion. +Metrics. Launches. Growth hacks. +But everything starts and ends with product. + +I've seen the hype cycles in the valley. They all crash. +What's left after the hype is gone is the product. Nothing else. + +### The MVP Isn't What It Used to Be + +Around this time, I read something from the Linear blog that really clicked. + +The definition of "MVP" is different now. +Back in the lean startup era, an MVP could be a scrappy little wedge — barely working. +Not anymore. + +Users expect more. +Products have matured. +An MVP today still has to _feel complete_. +It can be scrappy under the hood, but it can't be crappy in the hands. + +And if your wedge is _design_, like us, you don't even get that scrappy margin. +You have to nail it. + +So we stopped trying to play the "ship crap fast" game. +We're going to build something tight, sharp, and clean — and ship it with confidence. + +### Ferrari vs Porsche + +I've been thinking a lot about differentiators. Honestly? I don't have a perfect answer. +Granola exists. They're great. They're Porsche. + +We want to be Ferrari. + +Both are sports cars. Both fast. Both in the same league. +But Ferrari is hand-crafted, opinionated, focused on a specific segment. +Porsche is more accessible, more mass. + +We're not trying to win everyone. +We're trying to dominate a niche that _really cares_. + +We'll filter people through a waitlist. We'll charge from the start. +And if people don't like that, that's fine. We're not for everyone. + +### Just Focus + +I've stopped caring about what others are building. +Competitors matter long term, sure. +But right now, it's us, our users, and the product. + +### Burn It Down. Build It Better. + +Fixing the old app would've taken longer than rewriting it. +And honestly — it didn't deserve to be fixed. + +So we burned it down. +We rebuilt everything from scratch. +New app. Clean architecture. Sharper focus. + +This time: + +- We're building for people like us. +- We're opinionated. +- We're not mistaking speed for progress. +- We're not shipping crap just to "look busy." +- We're going Ferrari mode. + +This isn't a polished comeback story. +It's just us finally admitting what we messed up. +And getting back to building a product we actually believe in. + + + +
Hyprnote
+ +
+
+ - Choose your platform to get started with Hyprnote -
-+ Choose your platform to get started with Hyprnote +
+- Ask questions and get instant answers from all your recorded meetings and notes. Powered by local AI that - understands your entire conversation history. +
+ Ask questions and get instant answers from your meetings and notes using local AI
++ Ask questions in plain English, get accurate answers instantly. +
++ AI understands your full conversation history for better answers. +
++ All queries processed on your device, nothing sent to cloud. +
+- Get instant answers from all your meeting notes with Hyprnote's AI assistant. +
+ Get instant answers from all your meeting notes with Hyprnote's AI assistant
-
- Record meetings in real-time or upload audio files for transcription. Get instant AI-generated summaries
- with customizable templates. Works with any video conferencing tool.
+
+ Record meetings or upload audio files to get instant AI transcriptions and customizable summaries +
+ +
+ + Write and organize your notes with a powerful, intuitive editor that supports full markdown syntax.
- - -- Capture live audio or upload existing files -
-- Local AI converts speech to text with high accuracy -
++ Write and organize your notes with a powerful, intuitive editor that supports full markdown syntax. +
++ {parts.map((part, i) => { + if (part.startsWith("**") && part.endsWith("**")) { + return {part.slice(2, -2)}; + } + return part; + })} +
+ ); + } + + return null; + }; + + const renderCurrentLine = () => { + const currentLine = lines[currentLineIndex]; + + if (!currentLine) { + return null; + } + + if (currentLine.type === "heading" && isTransformed) { + const displayText = typingText.slice(2); // Remove "# " + return ( ++ {parts.map((part, i) => { + if (part.startsWith("**") && part.endsWith("**")) { + return {part.slice(2, -2)}; + } + return part; + })} + | +
+ ); + } + + // Show raw text before transformation + return ( ++ From live meetings to recorded audio, Hyprnote can transcribe it all. +
+- Generate summaries, action items, and insights -
-- Find information instantly and export notes -
+ For Apple Silicon Macs, transcription happens entirely on your device. Fast, private, and no internet + required. +
- Hit record before your meeting starts. Capture both your microphone and system audio simultaneously as - the conversation happens. -
-- Already have a recording? Drag and drop audio files to get transcripts and AI-generated summaries for - past conversations. -
-
- Hyprnote's AI automatically extracts key points, decisions, and action items from your conversations. No - more manual note-taking or post-meeting cleanup. -
-- AI identifies the most important topics, insights, and takeaways from each conversation. -
+- Automatically extracts tasks, follow-ups, and commitments made during the meeting. -
++ Upload audio files (M4A, MP3, WAV) or existing transcripts (VTT, TXT) to get AI summaries and insights. +
+- Captures important decisions, agreements, and conclusions reached during discussions. -
+- Identifies planned actions, timelines, and what needs to happen after the meeting. -
++ For Apple Silicon Macs, transcription happens entirely on your device. Fast, private, and no internet + required. +
++ Upload audio files (M4A, MP3, WAV) or existing transcripts (VTT, TXT) to get AI summaries and insights. +
- Use templates to control how AI structures your summaries. Choose from our library of{" "} - {allTemplates.length} templates or create your own custom format for different meeting types. -
-+ Get intelligent summaries after your meeting ends. Hyprnote combines your notes with transcripts to create + perfect summaries. +
++ While you take notes,{" "} + Hyprnote listens and keeps track of everything that happens during the meeting. +
- Need a specific format? Create your own custom templates to match your unique workflow and meeting - structure. -
-- Specify what sections you want in your notes -
+- Tell AI what to look for in each section -
-- Save and use your template for future meetings -
+ ++ After the meeting is over,{" "} + Hyprnote combines your notes with transcripts to create a perfect summary. +
++ While you take notes,{" "} + Hyprnote listens and keeps track of everything that happens during the meeting. +
- Automatically detect and label different speakers in your conversations. -
+- Jump to exact moments in your recording with accurate timestamps. -
+- Transcribe conversations in 100+ languages with local AI models. -
++ After the meeting is over,{" "} + Hyprnote combines your notes with transcripts to create a perfect summary. +
+- Export transcripts and summaries in TXT, MD, PDF, or DOCX formats. -
++ Find any note, conversation, or meeting in seconds. Search by participant names, topics discussed, keywords, + or date ranges to instantly locate the information you need. +
++ Search by participant or speaker names +
- From live meetings to archived recordings, handle all your audio transcription and AI summary needs with - one powerful tool. -
-+ Find by keywords, topics, or content +
+ Filter by date, time, or range +
++ Build complex queries with boolean operators, date ranges, and custom filters for powerful search + capabilities. +
+{description}
+ + ); +} + +function FloatingPanelSection() { + return ( ++ A compact overlay that stays on top during meetings but won't show when you share your screen. +
{template.description}
++ {tab.title} – {tab.description} +
+
+ + Compact Mode{" "} + – The default collapsed overlay that indicates the meeting is being listened to. Minimal and unobtrusive, + staying out of your way. +
++ Memos{" "} + – Take quick notes during the meeting. Jot down important points, ideas, or reminders without losing focus on + the conversation. +
++ Transcript{" "} + – Watch the live transcript as the conversation unfolds in real-time, so you never miss what was said during + the meeting. +
++ Live Insights{" "} + – Get a rolling summary of the past 5 minutes with AI-powered suggestions. For sales calls, receive prompts + for qualification questions and next steps. +
++ Chat{" "} + – Ask questions and get instant answers during the meeting. Query the transcript, get clarifications, or find + specific information on the fly. +
++ From live meetings to archived recordings, handle all your audio transcription and AI summary needs with one + powerful tool +
++
Build custom applications and integrations with the Hyprnote API.
- + ++
An optional bot solution for teams that need centralized meeting recording and management.
- - +- Connect with your favorite tools through integrations, or build custom solutions with our developer API. - Coming soon. +
+ Extend Hyprnote with custom themes, plugins, and views. Build together with the community.
- -- Connect Hyprnote with the tools you use every day. No coding required. -
-{integration.description}
-- Build custom integrations, automate workflows, and create powerful applications on top of Hyprnote. -
-{feature.description}
-{useCase.description}
+
- {`// Example: Fetch recent meetings
-const response = await fetch('https://api.hyprnote.com/v1/meetings', {
- headers: {
- 'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY',
- 'Content-Type': 'application/json'
- }
-});
-
-const meetings = await response.json();
-
-// Example: Get meeting transcript
-const meeting = await fetch(
- 'https://api.hyprnote.com/v1/meetings/abc123',
- {
- headers: { 'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY' }
- }
-).then(r => r.json());
-
-console.log(meeting.transcript);
-console.log(meeting.summary);
-console.log(meeting.action_items);`}
-
- - API design subject to change -
-- We're actively developing integrations and our API. Share your use case and we'll reach out when we - launch. -
-- Be the first to know when extensions become available. -
- - Join waitlist - -+
Hyprnote includes powerful mini apps for managing contacts, calendar, daily notes, and your personal knowledge base. Everything works together seamlessly.
++ Contacts, calendar, notes, and knowledge base in one place. +
++ Everything links automatically with your meetings and notes. +
++ Full conversation history and context at your fingertips. +
+@@ -246,6 +291,8 @@ function Component() {
@@ -290,9 +337,11 @@ function Component() {
+
Download Hyprnote to start using contacts and calendar integration today. Daily notes and noteshelf coming - soon. + soon
- - Download for free - - -- Hyprnote is a desktop notepad that records meetings without bots and processes everything locally on your - device. Complete privacy, no cloud uploads, and no interruptions. +
+ Record meetings without bots and process everything locally for complete privacy
++ Record directly from your device without intrusive meeting bots. +
++ All AI processing happens on your device, nothing sent to cloud. +
++ Your conversations stay yours, complete data ownership. +
++
Experience professional AI notetaking without bots, cloud uploads, or privacy compromises. Your data stays - yours. + yours
-+
Deploy Hyprnote on your own infrastructure for complete control, maximum security, and full data sovereignty.
- - +- Automate repetitive tasks with powerful workflows. No coding required. Coming soon. -
-- Set up workflows once and let them handle repetitive tasks automatically. -
-- Automatically transcribe, summarize, and extract action items from all your meetings without manual - intervention. -
-- Get notified when important events happen in your meetings. Set up custom alerts based on keywords, - speakers, or topics. -
-- Automatically export notes to specific folders or formats after each meeting. -
-- Send meeting summaries to participants or stakeholders automatically. -
-- Attach notes to calendar events and sync action items as tasks. -
-- Automatically transcribe daily standups, extract updates from each team member, and send a digest to - the team channel. -
-- Process client calls, extract action items, create tasks in your project management tool, and send - follow-up emails. -
-- Transcribe interviews, extract key insights, apply custom evaluation templates, and save to your ATS. -
+ {/* Hero Section */} +- Record sales calls, identify key objections and questions, log to CRM, and notify relevant team - members. -
+ ++ Automate repetitive tasks with powerful workflows. No coding required. +
+- Choose what starts your workflow: meeting end, keyword detection, scheduled time, or manual trigger. -
-- Add rules to filter when workflows run: meeting duration, participants, tags, or custom conditions. -
-- Choose what happens next: send notifications, export files, create tasks, or connect to - integrations. -
-+ Connect Hyprnote with your favorite tools and platforms +
+- Workflows run automatically in the background. Monitor activity and adjust as needed. -
+{integration.description}
- Be the first to know when workflows become available. -
- - Join waitlist - -+ More integrations coming soon +
+ +