Beam Raises $9.5M to Build Idea-Collecting Web Browser

Beam Secures $9.5 Million in Series A Funding

Beam, a company developing an innovative web browser, has successfully closed a $9.5 million Series A funding round. This new browser aims to fundamentally change the user experience of web sessions and online browsing.

The startup was founded by Dom Leca and Sébastien Métrot. Notably, Dom Leca was previously involved in the development of Sparrow, a highly regarded email application known for its distinctive design principles.

Investment Details

Pace Capital is leading this round of investment. A number of prominent angel investors are also participating, including Christian Reber, Harry Stebbings, and Albert Wenger.

Furthermore, existing investors – Spark, Amaranthine, C4V, and Alven – are reaffirming their confidence in Beam through continued investment.

Strategic Acquisition

Alongside the funding announcement, Beam revealed its acquisition of RadBlock, a well-known ad blocker specifically designed for the Safari browser.

Readers unfamiliar with Beam are encouraged to review a prior article detailing the product’s functionality and underlying philosophy.

Focus on Knowledge and Efficient Browsing

At its core, Beam is a browser designed with knowledge acquisition in mind. Many users find themselves spending considerable time browsing the web without retaining substantial information or creating useful records.

While bookmarking is an option, it’s often underutilized or quickly forgotten. Frequently, users resort to new Google searches even when revisiting previously explored topics.

How Beam Works: Sessions and Note Cards

Beam introduces a session-based approach to browsing. Each search initiates a new session, visually represented as a note card.

Upon completion of browsing, the note card automatically summarizes the session’s findings. The search query serves as the card’s title, with the most relevant websites prominently displayed.

Less pertinent content is organized towards the end of the note.

Users can then refine these summaries by adding text, removing links, and reorganizing information, effectively creating comprehensive notes with minimal effort.

Future Development and Team Expansion

Beam represents a significant undertaking, and the company anticipates ongoing iteration and refinement of its core concept. The goal is to provide a more enriching and educational web experience.

Currently, a team of seven individuals is dedicated to the Beam project. Future hiring plans include specialists in machine learning and natural language processing, as well as additional software developers.

The company aims to foster a learning environment mirroring the curiosity and exploration often found in childhood.