Granola AI Note-Taking Tool Expands Collaboration with $43M Funding Boost

Granola, an AI-powered note-taking startup, has experienced significant growth since its launch a year ago. Initially popular among venture capitalists and startup founders for automated meeting notes, users are increasingly adopting Granola for personal note-taking. This shift allows the app’s AI to analyze a broader range of information, surfacing valuable insights beyond meetings.

Co-founder Chris Pedregal highlights that many users keep Granola open throughout the day, making it a central workspace for managing both professional and personal information. This organic adoption has driven a weekly user growth rate of 10%, underscoring the app’s expanding role in users’ daily workflows.

Recently, Granola secured $43 million in a Series B funding round led by NFDG, valuing the company at $250 million. This round included participation from Lightspeed, Spark, and notable angel investors such as Guillermo Rauch and Tobi Lutke, bringing total funding to $67 million. The investment will support Granola’s expansion into collaborative features for business teams.

Granola’s new collaboration tools enable users to share transcripts and notes with teammates, allowing the AI to draw insights from a richer pool of data. Organizations can create custom folders for various use cases like sales calls, customer feedback, and hiring. Additionally, notes can be shared with non-users who can interact with the AI to ask questions, broadening accessibility.

Unlike other transcription apps such as Read AI, Fireflies, and Otter, Granola emphasizes personal control and post-meeting productivity. Users can edit notes anytime, making the app a dynamic workspace rather than just a passive recorder. Recent updates allow users to query the AI about all recorded meetings or specific folders, enhancing contextual understanding.

This expansion reflects a broader industry trend where AI-powered note-taking tools are evolving into integrated knowledge hubs. Competitors and productivity suites like Notion are also introducing AI transcription features to retain users within their ecosystems. Granola’s focus on user experience and AI-human balance positions it well for long-term growth and network effects.

Lightspeed’s Mike Mignano notes that Granola’s blend of AI transcription with human note control and the ability to build context across meetings strengthens its product. These features enable deeper insights and collaboration, making Granola a valuable tool for individuals and teams seeking to harness AI for enhanced productivity.