There are plenty of websites and apps out on the market today that will write a school paper, solve math equation homework, or even craft a college admissions essay.
But in reality, a lot of these AI platforms are just “cheating tools,” says Atlanta entrepreneur Zack Hargett. So when he and his co-founder went to build their own AI study assistant, Coconote, they wanted to build something completely different. Instead of just solving problems or writing essays, the Coconote team wants to create stronger study materials.
“We want to be on the right side of [AI] history here. We want to help students actually learn,” Hargett told Hypepotamus about.
This approach to building AI tools has helped them build a viral, bootstrapped app already used by well over a million users.
Crack Open The Coconote App
Coconote presents its users with a bold claim: Never take notes again.
But it is not about eliminating studying, but rather by helping students study more efficiently.
Hargett said that users get “the biggest value” by bringing Coconote directly into a classroom or lecture hall. Instead of frantically writing down notes, users hit record and the Coconote app gets to work. This gives students the ability to focus on what the professor is saying in the moment.
“Humans are not meant to multitask, and that’s why Coconote exists,” he told Hypepotamus. When the recording is done, Coconote recaps everything, giving users a complete transcript of what was covered alongside personalized study material — including quizzes, flash cards, practice exams, podcasts, games, videos, and mind maps.
Part of the benefit is helping reduce the “social anxiety” that comes from asking questions in front of a large classroom. Coconote allows students to “chat” with the recorded lecture note, asking it endless questions or clarifications to aid in the studying process.
The app has particularly resonated among students with ADHD, neurodivergent conditions, or learning disabilities who are looking for judgement-free study help.
Coconote By The Numbers (So Far)
Hargett describes Coconote as an “accidental EdTech company.” He initially created the platform to deal with his own frustrations around compressing important information from YouTube links, long-form written pieces, lecture materials, and meeting notes.
After launching in April of 2024, Coconote has acquired 1.5 million users and over 11,000 reviews on the app store.
Four full-time engineers and 12 part-time content creators currently make up the team, with the content creators playing a crucial role in putting Coconote in front of the app’s target audience online.
What’s In It For Educators?
Hargett and the team announced last week that teachers can receive a year of a Coconote subscription for free.
While students and parents still make up the majority of users, the Coconote team say that teachers are downloading the app and seeing value in the product as an advanced study tool that could aid classroom learning.
Hargett said that opening up the app’s premium version to teachers for free was “simply the right thing to do,” adding that “teachers are already doing incredible work with limited resources.”
Hargett added that Coconote’s roadmap includes new tools that will help teachers distribute information and ultimately learn more about student engagement around each lesson.
From Social Apps To EdTech
Hargett, a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, started his career in Atlanta’s startup community as a Product Manager at YikYak. He joined at the time when the anonymous social app was exploding on college campuses across the country and was raising its $64 million Series B round from Sequoia Capital.
After his YikYak years came to an end, Hargett moved to San Francisco. He ultimately joined as the ninth employee at the video communication platform Loom. The experience at Loom, which was later acquired by Atlassian, taught him that startups “can catch lightning in a bottle.”
That insight became foundational to his approach with Coconote, as he’s focused on “being in the right place and the right time and riding a larger wave.” In this case, that wave is AI’s impact on education.
For Hargett, the drive goes beyond just building another successful direct-to-consumer app.
“There’s something magical about impacting culture,” he said. “When it comes down to my personal mission, I know I enjoy creating products that are in the zeitgeist.”
While building Coconote, Hargett said he wants to create AI tools that actually help users.
“There’s an ethical line that I would say every entrepreneur really does have to draw. Otherwise, if you just follow the profits and follow the market…you may find yourself in a position that you’re really not proud to say and associate your name with,” he added.
