In summer 2020, former Evernote CEO Phil Libin launched Mmhmm, a software tool designed to make video presentations look polished, even if the presenter was calling in from a COVID-era makeshift home office. It was one of many products and startups launched during that time, aimed at making the sudden wave of remote meetings more productive—or at least more bearable.
While many of those ideas faded as businesses reopened—you probably haven’t joined a meeting as a cartoon avatar or signed on to a Zoom happy hour lately—Libin’s startup is still going strong.
The company, rebranded as Airtime in April, has raised more than $140 million from investors including Sequoia Capital and the SoftBank Vision Fund. It recently announced a second product called Airtime Camera, which gives users a more professional appearance on video calls. More ideas are also in development to enhance the still-ubiquitous videoconferencing experience.
“We want to make the essential tools for people who spend a lot of time on video at work,” Libin says.
