Launch of Stashpad: A Dev-Focused Note-Taking Startup with a Login-Free Google Docs Alternative

Stashpad, a developer-focused “DM to yourself”-styled notebook app, is now pivoting to a docs app that you can use without logging in. The company will still maintain its original notes app and call it “Stashpad Lists.”StashPad Docs is the company’s new offering that doesn’t require any login and supports Markdown formatting. The product is browser first and document history is stored locally, so users can search for docs without querying the server. They might do so even without fully acknowledging that Google Docs remains a big part of their workflow.”With this new product, Stashpad aims to attract both technical and non-technical users. Plus, it sees a venture-sized opportunity for the docs product.

Stashpad, the developer-focused “DM to yourself” notebook app, has recently undergone a major pivot and is now shifting its focus towards a new and innovative idea – Stashpad Docs. With this new offering, the company is branching out into the world of documentation apps, providing a user-friendly and hassle-free experience for users. The best part? No need to log in or go through any tedious sign-up process.

The company will still maintain its original notes app and call it “Stashpad Lists.”

The new Docs product boasts of a browser-first design, allowing users to easily access and edit their documents with the utmost convenience. And the best part is, the document history is stored locally, eliminating the need for constant server queries. This not only makes it faster, but also more secure.

But that’s not all. Stashpad Docs also supports Markdown formatting, making it extremely versatile in terms of document customization options. And while offline support may not be available at the moment, the startup has assured that it is a feature that will be rolled out in the near future, providing even more convenience to its users.

One of the standout features of Stashpad Docs is its easy sharing and collaboration options. Users can easily share their documents with others for collaboration and feedback. However, certain features such as read-only sharing do require a login. Additionally, pro features like restricted access and priority support are available for a small fee. The company has priced their Pro plan at $12 per month, or a discounted rate of $8 per month for annual payments.

The company has also emphasized the importance of collaboration in the development of Stashpad Docs. With real-time interactions supported and a minimal delay of less than 50 milliseconds, it proves to be an efficient and seamless platform for teams to work together.

Why the pivot?

Despite having raised $2 million in funding, Stashpad realized that their note-taking app was not gaining the expected traction. The niche audience for the product proved to be a hurdle in terms of growth and scalability.

The startup, which has raised $2 million to date, told TechCrunch that it didn’t see expected growth with the note-taking product as the audience for it was too narrow.

According to Co-Founder and CEO Cara Borenstein, the push towards collaboration features in the note-taking app led to the realization that there is a greater demand for a Google Docs-like platform for teams to work together. Through user interviews, it became evident that even teams with official documentation tools in place often resorted to Google Docs for certain use-cases.

“With this new product, we aim to attract both technical and non-technical users. We see a venture-sized opportunity for the docs product and are excited for its potential growth,” Borenstein said in an email.