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Overview
Inspiration
As a student, I was drowning in lectures and couldn’t efficiently review hours of audio. I needed a tool to turn recordings into actionable notes without losing time - or sanity. I realized this problem extends beyond students to professionals recording meetings or interviews, so I set out to build a solution that could help anyone in similar situations.
What it does
Transcribee is a fast, smart, and seamless transcription app. Users can record or import audio and get accurate transcriptions in over 100 languages with automatic speaker detection. AI-powered summaries, key points, and insights turn recordings into actionable notes, while tags, searchable history, and iCloud sync keep everything organized across devices. It’s designed to save time, improve productivity, and make study or work workflows smoother.
How we built it
I built Transcribee solo, handling everything from SwiftUI development and Apple’s Liquid Glass iOS 26 design to integrating AI summaries, speaker detection, and iCloud syncing. I designed onboarding flows, the in-app review prompt, and the overall user experience, iterating quickly based on feedback. Every detail was my responsibility - from code to design to testing.
Challenges we ran into
Balancing speed, accuracy, and usability was tricky. Debugging edge cases solo and making design decisions without a team was challenging, as was prioritizing features and iterating on feedback efficiently. Late nights fueled by coffee became part of the process - but I learned to thrive under those conditions.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
Since launching at the end of August, Transcribee has already started making an impact. Early users report that it saves them hours, improves productivity, and streamlines both study and work workflows. Getting an early boost from Apple helped reach initial adopters quickly, and the in-app review prompt has been invaluable for gathering feedback and iterating fast. I’m proud that a tool born from my own struggles as a student is already helping others stay organized, turn recordings into actionable notes, and work more efficiently.
What we learned
Building solo taught me how to manage a full product lifecycle alone, prioritize ruthlessly, and iterate quickly based on user feedback. I also learned the value of focusing on user experience and simplicity - sometimes less really is more.
What's next for Transcribee
I plan to expand to macOS and iPadOS so users can access transcripts across all Apple devices. I’m also exploring collaborative tools for teams and deeper integrations with productivity apps, aiming to make Transcribee the ultimate hub for turning audio chaos into actionable knowledge.
