Startup News

Startup launches to help teams Speakeasy

Sebastian Tofts-Len
Sebastian Tofts-Len
speakeasy
// // The Hustle Software-built communication tool has launched on Product Hunt...

A new Subiaco-based startup called Speakeasy has officially launched on Product Hunt.

The project was first started with Perth-based startup incubator, Hustle Software.

What began as a feature to compliment a platform for contractors quickly evolved into the new message and video chat tool.

Indeed, communication tools have received a lot of attention recently. We’re all too familiar with the circumstances of the past two years.

The pandemic hits. Government restrictions come down. And predictably, we see communication tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Slack explode in demand.

Founder and Director of Speakeasy, Bradley Rees and his team started off no different using these tools. However, the lightbulb moment came when the team started naturally gravitating towards their own developed product.

“We didn’t ask or force it; we just had gotten to a point where we had a better product that people wanted to use,” said Mr Rees.

Simplicity is key

So, what makes Speakeasy different from all these other platforms? After all, there seems to be no shortage of communication tools. Especially when the pandemic has driven demand to new highs.

Well, in the words of Leonardo da Vinci and later used by Apple co-founder, Steve Jobs: simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

Mr Rees said the main feature comes with the tool not being overbuilt.

With other tools like Slack and Teams, it is hard to add clients and external team members for projects. Additionally, old channels and topics clog workspaces with junk.

Speakeasy fixes these problems. It has enough chat and notifications to keep teams moving but not overwhelming like Slack or Teams that are massive brain and productivity drains.

“With Speakeasy our original goal was to be able to set up a chat or call very easily without onboarding them into your Slack workspace or equivalent,” he explained.

We’ve achieved that, but a side effect has been that it’s actually a really good micro-project management tool. I mean I wouldn’t have explicitly thought that at the start, but that’s how we use it on a daily basis.

Bradley Rees, Speakeasy Founder and Director.

Both internal and external users can reply and interact without having to go through the login and set up process. Teams can invite anyone and everyone via a simple link in an email where the recipient can then join the project and start collaborating.

Startup launches to help teams Speakeasy

And thus, barriers to entry are lowered, translating to a much simpler and efficient communication system when collaborating with external stakeholders.

Over 300 Beta customers have been testing the platform this year. So far, freelancers, consultants and smaller teams are finding it useful for customer onboarding, fast file sharing and feedback on tasks.

In the long-term, Speakeasy hopes to connect teams who previously didn’t get a chance to have access to expensive and team software and tools: small business, freelancers, agencies, not-for-profits, clubs, sporting teams and community organisations.

“We want Speakeasy to be affordable and accessible to everyone. Not overbaked or confusing. Just plain and simple chat, file sharing and video for to keep us all connected,” said Mr Rees.

Speakeasy is available on desktop and mobile, but the team recommends getting started in a browser for a faster setup.

~~

For more information, check out Speakeasy’s website.

Also, see the Product Hunt listing here.

Read more of the latest news from the startup ecosystem here

Share this post :

LinkedIn
Twitter
Facebook
WhatsApp
Reddit
Telegram
Our Sponsors
Sebastian Tofts-Len

Sebastian Tofts-Len

Sebastian is an undergraduate economics student and research assistant at Curtin University. He mainly writes on startup funding, launches, events and grant programs.
Latest News

Become a Startup Insider

Get the latest startup news, tips, and inspiration in your inbox each week.