Rewatch Raises $20M to Solve Zoom Fatigue with Video Indexing

The Rise of Video Management Tools and Rewatch's $20 Million Funding

While discussions surrounding “Zoom fatigue” have diminished since the initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, it remains unclear whether individuals have simply adapted to video conferencing or discovered effective coping mechanisms. Alternatively, anticipation for supportive tools may have lessened the perceived burden.

A startup addressing the challenges of managing extensive video data has recently secured funding to facilitate growth. Recognizing the inevitable increase in video usage, the company aims to provide solutions beyond basic internet connectivity, microphones, and cameras.

Rewatch: A System of Record for Internal Video

Rewatch has developed a suite of tools enabling organizations to establish a comprehensive “system of record” for their internal video archives. This goes beyond simple video storage, offering capabilities to search and organize information extracted from live video calls.

The company has announced the general availability of its platform, transitioning from an invite-only access model.

Rewatch has successfully closed a $20 million Series A funding round, led by Andreessen Horowitz, with participation from Semil Shah at Haystack, Kent Goldman at Upside Partners, and several individual investors.

This funding follows a $2 million seed round secured in January of this year. The platform has already gained traction with notable clients including GitHub, Brex, Envoy, and The Athletic.

Addressing the Productivity Paradox of Video Communication

A significant portion of modern work communication now occurs via video. However, despite the promise of increased productivity through remote accessibility, video conferencing often falls short of expectations.

While facilitating frequent interaction, video calls can lead to information loss due to inadequate tracking. Furthermore, the time dedicated to these calls may detract from other essential tasks or necessitate stricter scheduling.

Rewatch integrates with Zoom and Google Meet, automatically importing video chats into a centralized system. This allows users to browse and access conversations on demand, alongside transcripts and search functionality for efficient information retrieval.

Users retain control over automatic imports and can customize filing and accessibility settings. Currently, videos from other platforms require manual uploading, though Sears indicated plans for future automated integration.

Automating Workflow Integration

Future development plans include automating the creation of work tickets directly from meeting content, streamlining follow-up actions.

Although numerous transcription services and cloud storage options exist, Rewatch distinguishes itself by specifically addressing the challenges of managing, indexing, and centralizing video archives for broad organizational use.

This approach highlights a core issue: the productivity paradox. The tools designed to enhance work efficiency can sometimes demand more effort than the benefits they provide.

The time consumed by platforms like Slack, while facilitating communication, can hinder focused work due to the constant need to filter information and distinguish valuable content from casual conversation.

Seamless Video Management with Automation

“We integrate with the tools companies already use, automating video capture to minimize user effort,” explained Sears. “Maintaining a well-organized video archive requires diligence in recording, transcribing, distributing, and archiving. We aim to make this process seamless and effortless.”

Technological advancements, particularly in AI, hold the potential to bridge the gap between productivity tools and genuine productivity gains.

Dooly, a company that recently raised funding, exemplifies this trend by automating data entry into sales software from various communication channels like phone calls, videos, and text messages.

A growing number of companies are emerging, focused on effectively managing and leveraging the increasing volume of video content.

AnyClip, another recently funded company, applies analytics and search capabilities to internal video libraries and extends its reach to broader video organization opportunities, indicating a larger potential market for Rewatch.

Currently, Rewatch is focused on serving enterprises and businesses.

Investor Confidence in Rewatch's Vision

David Ulevitch, a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz, stated, “We prioritize founders, and Connor and Scott immediately impressed us with their experience, clear problem definition, and vision for Rewatch as a comprehensive solution for video and knowledge management.”

Ulevitch further noted their experience at GitHub, holding senior roles in product design and engineering, demonstrating their ability to scale a product effectively. Their rapid progress in building a product, securing large customers, and attracting talent underscores their potential for long-term success.