Hera - Calendar App for Virtual Meetings

Introducing Hera: Reimagining the Calendar as a Central Work Hub

Hera is a novel calendar application designed to transform the traditional calendar from a simple scheduling tool into a primary interface for work management. This innovative app streamlines the process of arranging meetings through the utilization of natural language processing.

Furthermore, Hera facilitates effortless sharing of availability details via email or any messaging platform. The company’s future plans include developing integrations with existing work applications.

Funding and Backing

To date, Hera has successfully secured $465,000 (€400,000) in a pre-seed funding round. This round was spearheaded by Eurazeo, formerly known as Idinvest, alongside contributions from various business angels.

Subsequently, Hera participated in Y Combinator’s S21 program and completed a $1.7 million seed round, again led by Eurazeo.

Investor Network

Notable business angels contributing to Hera’s funding include Alexis Bonillo, Thibaud Elzière, Kyle Parrish, Calvin French-Owen, John Gabaix, and Karthik Puvvada (KP). Additional investment was provided by Notion Capital and Kima Ventures.

Evolution of the Product

Initially conceived as a calendar app centered around meeting note-taking, Hera’s functionality has undergone significant evolution following its involvement with Y Combinator.

The application now concentrates on comprehensively managing the entire event lifecycle, catering to professionals who frequently participate in numerous virtual meetings.

Streamlined Scheduling and Preparation

Hera simplifies meeting scheduling and preparation. Users can quickly select multiple available time slots with ease.

The app then automatically generates a user-friendly text format, readily copyable and pasteable into email communications, WhatsApp conversations, or other messaging channels.

This approach offers a more intuitive experience for recipients compared to conventional meeting scheduling tools, eliminating the need to generate and click on external links.

Contextual Information and Integration

Hera is designed to gather relevant context surrounding upcoming meetings. It recognizes that users often possess substantial information about their meeting attendees.

This includes existing email exchanges, CRM data, and a history of previous interactions.

“Our focus isn’t on becoming a project management platform; instead, we aim to integrate seamlessly with the tools you already utilize,” explained Bruno Vegreville, co-founder and CEO.

Note-Taking and Export Capabilities

Hera allows users to record preliminary notes before a meeting to ensure no crucial details are overlooked.

During the meeting itself, additional notes can be added, and the compiled data can then be exported to preferred note-taking applications like Notion.

Future Developments

Currently, Hera is particularly well-suited for users seeking to enhance their Google Calendar experience. Future development plans include the introduction of collaborative features.

For example, improved scheduling could be achieved when both parties are actively using Hera. Direct mentions of other Hera users within the calendar could also facilitate feedback requests regarding meetings.

Vision and Potential

Hera has been accessible through a private beta program for the past several months. The startup’s overarching goal is clearly defined.

Drawing a parallel to productivity tools like Superhuman, which have revolutionized email management, Hera aspires to become the “Superhuman of calendars” by optimizing the handling of meetings – viewed as a form of threaded communication.