Heptabase is a visual knowledge management tool built around infinite whiteboards and spatial note cards. Unlike folder-based tools, it lets you place notes called cards freely on a canvas and reuse each card across multiple whiteboards, so a single idea can live in several research contexts at once.
The result is a system designed not for filing things away, but for actively thinking through complex topics. Founded by Alan Chan after dropping out of Minerva University, Heptabase was built to solve one problem: how to establish deep understanding of anything, faster.
Heptabase reached seven-figure ARR within two years of its 1.0 launch in September 2023 a trajectory fueled almost entirely by word of mouth. The company participated in Y Combinator's W22 batch and has since grown to over 350,000 active users worldwide, with an estimated $7M ARR.
The Heptabase user retention challenge growth teams often cite is the steep initial learning curve: the spatial paradigm requires abandoning folder-based mental models.
Founder Alan Chan addressed this through daily Discord sessions, cohort retention analysis in Amplitude, and relentless iteration until engagement compounded users now average roughly 40 minutes per day inside the app, with churn below 12%.
The platform supports multiple content formats including PDFs, audio, video, highlights, and journals, and is built offline-first with ultra-fast global search across 10,000+ notes. Pricing starts at $8.99/month billed annually or $11.99/month on a monthly plan, with a 7-day free trial.
Team plans enable collaborative workflows with shared whiteboards and role management. Heptabase runs on Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and in browser, syncing in real time.
For researchers, students, and deep-work professionals who find linear note-taking too limiting, it offers a spatial alternative designed around how complex thinking actually works.
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