Rudy Arora and Sarthak Dhawan, both 20 and still in college, decided to drop out after a few semesters and focus on a shared vision: a smarter way to capture lecture notes. They built Turbo AI, an AI‑powered note‑taker that automatically transcribes, summarizes, and tags content from video, audio, and PDFs. Leveraging open‑source speech‑to‑text models and fine‑tuned summarization algorithms, Turbo AI promised to reduce the time students spent typing and to surface insights they might otherwise miss. The duo launched the beta in early 2023, inviting students from top universities to test the prototype and provide feedback.
As word spread through campus forums and social media, Turbo AI’s user base exploded. The founders ran a guerrilla marketing campaign, partnering with student influencers and hosting live demos in dorm lounges. By mid‑2024, the app had surpassed 1 million downloads, and the retention rate climbed to 68% after one month. The company pivoted to a freemium model, offering advanced summarization features for premium subscribers. This shift helped Turbo AI hit an eight‑figure ARR by late 2024, with 5 million active users worldwide. Investors took notice, and the startup secured a Series A round that valued the company at over $200 million.
Turbo AI’s rise underscores how a clear product‑market fit paired with rapid iteration can catapult a startup into mainstream adoption. The founders attribute their success to listening closely to user pain points—particularly the need for real‑time, context‑aware note generation—and to leveraging open‑source AI tools to accelerate development. Looking ahead, they plan to integrate more language models, launch a browser extension, and expand into corporate training. They also aim to partner with universities to embed Turbo AI into course curricula, potentially monetizing through institutional licenses. Early signs suggest that the platform’s AI‑driven insights are already enhancing study efficiency across disciplines.
Want the full story?
Read on TechCrunch →