AI Meeting Notes & Transcription Tool
The Rise and Merger of Airgram: Why It Shut Down and What Happened Next
Ever wondered why Airgram, once a promising AI meeting assistant, disappeared? It wasn't due to failure—at least, not in the traditional sense. Instead, Airgram was absorbed into Notta, another AI transcription tool, in what appears to be a strategic business move.
But why did this happen? Was it a smart pivot, or did Airgram struggle to stay competitive? Let’s explore the full story.
What Was Airgram?
Airgram was an AI-powered meeting assistant designed to automate note-taking, transcriptions, and meeting summaries. Founded in 2020 by Ryan Zhang, it integrated with major video conferencing platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams.
At its peak, Airgram had:
- $10 million in Series A funding (raised in 2022)
- A user base of 500,000+
- Support for multiple languages and collaboration tools
Airgram was gaining traction in a fast-growing AI transcription market, with users from various industries—especially tech and healthcare—adopting it as an alternative to competitors like Otter.ai.
However, by early 2024, the company had seemingly vanished, its website (airgram.io) no longer operational. So, what happened?
Why Did Airgram Shut Down?
Short Answer:
Airgram didn’t fail but merged with Notta, another AI transcription tool. This was a business decision to consolidate resources and enhance service offerings rather than a shutdown due to financial or operational struggles.
Long Answer:
Airgram’s disappearance was due to multiple strategic factors:
Merger with Notta for a More Competitive Product
- Airgram officially joined Notta as announced on Notta’s website, stating: “Airgram and Notta have joined forces to build an integrated solution for AI meeting notes and audio transcription.”
- Notta offered enhanced features, including support for 58 languages, mobile apps, and integrations with 15+ productivity tools.
No Signs of Financial Trouble
- Airgram had secured significant funding in 2022 and had an active user base as of late 2023.
- If financial stress had been an issue, we would expect signs like layoffs, funding shortfalls, or investor concerns—but none were reported.
Market Consolidation in the AI Transcription Space
- The AI-powered meeting tools landscape became increasingly competitive, with players like Otter.ai, Fireflies.ai, and Notta offering similar meeting transcription services.
- Instead of competing solo, Airgram’s leadership likely saw greater value in combining efforts with Notta.
Shifting Focus to a Unified Brand
- Airgram’s technology and features were integrated into Notta, but instead of maintaining two brands, Notta became the main focus.
- Users were encouraged to transition to Notta’s platform, with new features improving upon Airgram’s original offering.
No Public Announcement of a Shutdown
- Unlike struggling startups that issue shutdown notices, Airgram’s transition was more of a quiet absorption—no farewell message, just a redirect to Notta.
How Did Notta Succeed Where Airgram Didn’t?
While Airgram and Notta started as separate competitors in AI meeting transcription, Notta ultimately outlasted Airgram. Why?
- Stronger Feature Set – Notta had broader language support (58 vs. Airgram’s fewer options) and better integrations.
- Better Market Positioning – Notta was expanding aggressively across different industries, making it a more appealing long-term option.
- Mobile and Multi-Platform Support – Notta emphasized seamless usage across desktop, mobile, and cloud-based collaboration, whereas Airgram’s offerings were more limited.
In the end, merging Airgram into Notta helped create a stronger, more competitive product instead of having two similar tools vying for the same market share.
Final Thoughts: Lessons from Airgram’s Merger
Unlike many startups that shut down due to financial mismanagement or market failure, Airgram’s story is different. Instead of collapsing, it strategically merged with Notta to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving industry.
The key takeaway? In AI-driven markets, sometimes survival isn’t about standing alone—it’s about finding the right ally to grow with. For Airgram, that ally was Notta.
FAQs: What Happened to Airgram?
Who founded Airgram?
Airgram was founded by Ryan Zhang in 2020.
When did Airgram shut down?
Airgram’s website became inactive in early 2024, aligning with its merger with Notta.
Did Airgram fail?
Not exactly. It merged with Notta, which absorbed its technology and user base.
How much funding did Airgram raise?
Airgram raised $10 million in a Series A funding round in 2022.
What is Notta, and how is it related to Airgram?
Notta is an AI-powered meeting transcription tool that merged with Airgram to enhance its service offerings. Many of Airgram’s features now exist within Notta’s platform.
Can I still use Airgram?
No. Airgram no longer exists as a standalone product, but you can use Notta, which now offers similar (and improved) features.
While Airgram may have disappeared, its legacy lives on in Notta, offering a lesson in strategic business evolution.
What is airgram.io?
Airgram.io is a versatile meeting productivity tool compatible with Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams. It offers real-time transcription, video recording, collaborative notes, agendas, action items, summaries, and clip creation to enhance online meeting efficiency. Supporting eight languages and adhering to SOC 2 security standards, it prioritizes accessibility and data protection. Users can opt for a free trial or select a paid plan to suit their needs. Launched in late 2020, Airgram.io earned recognition as the #1 Product of the Day on Product Hunt in July 2022, reflecting its popularity in the productivity and collaboration tool landscape.
How much does airgram.io cost?
Airgram.io is a versatile tool designed to streamline the process of joining, recording, and note-taking during meetings through the use of intelligent AI capabilities. It offers two distinct pricing plans: Free and Plus.
The Free plan is tailored for individuals who conduct meetings sporadically. It provides users with the ability to record up to 5 meetings per month, with a limitation of 1 imported file transcription per meeting. Meetings under this plan are restricted to a maximum duration of 30 minutes.
On the other hand, the Plus plan caters to both individuals and teams with a higher volume of meetings, emphasizing collaboration and administrative management. This plan offers users unlimited meeting recordings and imported files per month, accommodating meetings with a duration of up to 5 hours.
For users interested in the Plus plan, it is available at a monthly cost of $18 USD per user, billed on a monthly basis. Additionally, individuals considering Airgram.io can initiate a free trial to explore its features and functionality prior to committing to a subscription.
How does airgram.io work?
Airgram.io employs artificial intelligence to streamline the management of online meetings through a variety of methods:
- Airgram Chrome Extension: Users have the option to install the Airgram Chrome Extension, which facilitates direct screen and camera recording within the Airgram platform. Additionally, it allows for the importation of pre-recorded audio and video files, which can then be transcribed using Airgram's transcription capabilities.
- Airgram Assistant: The Airgram Assistant, a virtual meeting participant, plays a pivotal role in meeting management. It automatically joins meetings to record and transcribe them. Users can configure the assistant to auto-join meetings by synchronizing their calendar events or manually invite the assistant by sharing the meeting link. This functionality extends to popular platforms including Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and Webex.
- Airgram Notepad: Airgram offers a collaborative note-taking tool known as the Airgram Notepad. Users can employ this tool to create meeting agendas, action items, summaries, and clips. Furthermore, it allows for the addition of highlights, comments, and AI-generated topics to meeting notes. Importantly, the notepad integrates seamlessly with meeting recordings and transcripts, enabling users to navigate to specific segments of the meeting with ease.
These versatile features cater to diverse meeting needs, enhancing productivity and efficiency by automating the recording, transcription, and analysis of online meetings.
What are the limitations of airgram.io?
While Airgram.io offers valuable meeting productivity features, it's important to consider its limitations:
- Transcription Language Support: Airgram.io provides transcription services in a selection of eight languages, namely English, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Japanese, and Chinese (Simplified). Users requiring transcription in other languages may find this limitation restrictive.
- Compatibility with Specific Platforms: Airgram.io is compatible exclusively with Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams for meeting recording and transcription. It does not extend its functionality to other video conferencing platforms or applications, potentially limiting its utility for users relying on alternative platforms.
- Free Plan Restrictions: The free plan offered by Airgram.io allows users to record up to 5 meetings per month. However, only one of these meetings can involve the transcription of an imported file, and each meeting is limited to a maximum duration of 30 minutes. Users with higher meeting volumes or longer meetings will need to consider upgrading to the Plus plan, priced at $18 per user per month.
- Limited Mobile and Browser Extension: Airgram.io lacks a dedicated mobile app and browser extension. Users can only access and manage their meeting data through the web app, which may inconvenience those seeking more flexible access options.
- Absence of Voice Assistant: Airgram.io does not feature a voice assistant that can interact with users during meetings. Instead, users must rely on the web app or keyboard shortcuts for recording and transcription control. This absence of a voice assistant feature may be a limitation for those accustomed to such functionality in similar tools.
Understanding these limitations alongside its strengths can help users make informed decisions about the suitability of Airgram.io for their specific meeting productivity needs.
What are the benefits of airgram.io?
Airgram.io offers a range of valuable benefits to enhance your meeting experience:
- Live Transcription: Airgram.io provides live transcription services for Zoom, Google Meet, and Teams meetings in a choice of 8 languages. These transcriptions are easily editable, allowing users to make modifications, highlight important sections, and effortlessly export the transcript.
- Meeting Recording: Users can record meetings and seamlessly synchronize them with the transcript. This feature also enables the creation of clips for convenient sharing with meeting participants.
- Collaborative Agenda and Notes: Airgram.io supports the collaborative creation of meeting agendas and notes. Additionally, users can convert sections of the transcript into actionable items directly from within the platform.
- AI-Generated Summaries and Insights: Users can harness AI-generated summaries and insights derived from meeting transcripts. The platform also offers the ability to filter content by keywords or speakers, making it easier to extract valuable information.
- Integration: Airgram.io boasts seamless integration with popular productivity tools such as Google Calendar, Slack, Notion, Microsoft Word, and Google Docs. This allows users to access and share meeting data across various devices, enhancing accessibility and collaboration.
These features collectively contribute to a more efficient and productive meeting experience, catering to diverse needs and promoting seamless integration with existing workflow tools.
What is the use for Airgram?
Airgram helps users manage their whole meeting process. Before the meeting, you can write a meeting agenda and sync to your team members. During the meeting, you can enjoy accurate live transcription with 8 languages to choose from, whether your meeting held on Google Meet, Zoom, Webex, or MS Teams. After the meeting, you can edit your transcript and export it to Slack, Hubspot, MS word, Google Doc, and Notion, or more apps through the integration with Zapier. You can even choose to generate an AI meeting summary powered by GPT-4, which captures the key info in your meeting.
Does Airgram have a free trial?
Yes, Airgram offers a Free Plan for every user. You can enjoy 5 free recordings each month, 1 imported file included.
Who could benefit most from Airgram?
People who work in sales, customer success, and marketing could benefit most from Airgram in their meetings with clients or their internal meeting. Airgram helps save you much time during your calls!
%20(1)%20(1).webp){kind=logo}
