Plaud's AI Notetaker Business Hits $100M in ARR with 2M Devices Sold

There aren’t many success stories to refer to when it comes to AI hardware. Plaud, which makes AI-powered notetakers, is trying to become one by targeting professionals who take a lot of meetings. The company said it has sold more than 2 million of its devices, including Plaud Pins and credit-card-styled gadgets that stick on the back of the phone.

It also said that its subscription business has reached over $100 million in annualized revenue run rate. Plaud pointed out that many AI companies often rely on digital documents and prompts typed from memories. Its argument is that its devices, which don’t have any screens, help people have conversations in real life and recall important points along with summaries and action items later.

“Most AI companies have scaled through software behind a screen. We took a different path. The conversations that actually move things forward don’t happen on a keyboard.

We built the interface for the post-screen world. And the market validated it,” said Nathan Xu, co-founder and CEO of Plaud. Last year, the company launched the $179 Plaud Pro, and this year, it added the new Plaud Pin S at a similar price.

Besides hardware, the company has accelerated its software development, too. Earlier this year, it launched a desktop app that can take Granola-style notes via system audio for online meetings. Last month, it also introduced Plaud Teams with shared memory to target enterprises.

Plaud users can buy the hardware and get 300 minutes of transcription for free. However, if someone has many meetings a day, the free limit is likely to run out quickly. For extra minutes and other features, users can get monthly, annual, or add-on plans.

Xu told TechCrunch that its revenue is largely powered by nearly 50% of the device users upgrading from the basic plan to the pro or unlimited plans. The company doesn’t yet sell standalone software subscriptions. That means, typically, it’s the users who own a Plaud device who are buying its paid plans.

The meeting note-taking hardware market has a lot of competition, including accessories company Anker, Transsion-backed Viaim, Sequoia China-backed Vibe, and YC-backed Pocket. Why this matters: Plaud's success in the AI hardware space is significant, as it demonstrates that companies can create viable businesses by developing specialized devices that integrate AI capabilities. For developers and businesses, Plaud's approach highlights the potential for creating value by focusing on specific use cases, such as meeting note-taking, and building a robust ecosystem around those products.

For consumers, Plaud's offerings provide a glimpse into a future where AI-powered tools can seamlessly integrate into daily workflows, making tasks more efficient. However, questions remain about the long-term viability of Plaud's business model, particularly its reliance on hardware sales to drive software subscriptions. As the AI hardware market continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how Plaud adapts and innovates to stay ahead of the competition.