Tech entrepreneurs launch AI notetaking assistant

A Hampshire-based tech startup is set to transform workplace productivity with the launch of a “game-changing” smart AI-powered notetaking assistant designed for UK businesses.

Entrepreneurs Ben O’Nion and Charlie Gray, founders of SaaS company OneHive, have developed Echo AI having raised £2 million in funding from Whiteley tech investment firm Ridown Group.

The pair – former Meoncross School pupils in Stubbington who set up their first venture together aged just 13 – have created a digital assistant that attends online meetings, providing automatic transcripts, summaries, sentiment analysis and personalised action points, removing the need for manual notetaking.

Ben said: “Echo AI exists to help teams become more efficient, ensuring they stay on track and don’t miss outcomes, action points and context in meetings.

“Productivity can suffer when people lose track of meetings, fail to remember what was said and agreed and are not clear about the actions they are responsible for.

“Echo AI takes all the guesswork out of it, giving everyone an accurate record of the meeting and what was agreed. 

“Businesses which have used Echo AI tell us that it creates time, reduces misunderstandings and slip-ups and helps keep teams focused on tasks.

“We are proud to roll Echo AI out UK-wide to help the nation’s businesses harness the power of smart notetaking.”

Optimised for UK businesses, the tool integrates with Teams, Zoom and Google Meet while ensuring full GDPR compliance and secure data storage in the UK.

Echo AI has undergone trials with employees from Vodafone, Starbucks UK, Gamma and JCB. 

Telecom entrepreneur Aaron Brown, who is the founder of Ridown Group alongside Darren Ridge, added: “Ben and Charlie are incredibly impressive young entrepreneurs who have developed an outstanding product in Echo AI.

“We have made a significant investment in them because we believe Echo AI is a game changer – an example of how the power of AI can be used for good, freeing up teams to focus on the tasks that matter while keeping projects on track and ensuring full compliance, accountability and data security.

“We are proud to launch Echo AI and excited to be with Ben and Charlie on this journey as we establish the product as a must-have for successful and productive businesses.”

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