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For Founder CEO podcast, I had the opportunity to speak with Colin Treseler, co-founder and CEO of the company Supernatural— a breakthrough AI-powered tool designed to make meetings more productive and less stressful. Colin’s story is one of grit, curiosity and an unwavering commitment to solving the problems that matter to him – without wasting time! With a background shaped by fierce competition in sports, Colin’s journey provides an inspiring blueprint for those that dare to take the entrepreneurial leap.
Founder background
Colin’s story begins atop Heartbreak Hill in Boston, where he grew up as the youngest of 4 children in a spirited, athletic family. His father, an Olympic running coach, often hosted world-class Kenyan athletes in his home, giving Colin an early education in the excellence, discipline and great thing about different cultures. Dinner parties at his home were filled with competition not only for sports, but also for ideas and knowledge, which set the stage for his lifelong love of learning.
After graduating from Dartmouth and competing in rowing, a back injury forced him to take up sailing, where he discovered the power of communication and teamwork. Colin’s profession path began unconventionally – he got a job through Craigslist at a small startup in Boston. This first taste of entrepreneurship lit a fire that led to positions at fast-growing firms comparable to Klarna and Facebook, where he honed his knowledge of technology and product design.
But Colin’s restless curiosity at all times pointed him towards greater challenges. In 2019, after years of observing inefficiencies plaguing organizations, he and co-founder Fabian Perez decided to build a tool that might redefine the way teams communicate, collaborate and save time.
Business development and success
Supernormal launched with one daring promise: you may never have to take meeting notes again. It began with a easy idea, but quickly gained traction with a growing audience, especially as distant work became the norm. Supernormal currently serves over 365,000 organizations in 150 countries, providing a seamless approach to robotically record, summarize and organize meetings.
Under Colin’s leadership, Supernormal has moved beyond note-taking to introduce “Norma” – an AI assistant that joins meetings, answers questions, and even brainstorms in real time. Imagine a colleague who remembers every detail of previous meetings, raises his hand to share insights, and makes sure you never miss one other task. This is Norma. “We wanted to give people their time back,” Colin explained, “so they could focus on meaningful work rather than mundane tasks.”
The unique value or offering of a product
What sets Supernormal apart is its deeply human approach to artificial intelligence. Unlike generic tools, Norma learns from the specific context of the organization, adapting to individual needs and offering tailored solutions. More than simply a meeting bot, it’s a trusted team member that takes the burden off you. Whether it’s summarizing a quarterly review or helping your team brainstorm product names, Norma empowers users to be more productive while freeing up time for creativity and connection.
But for Colin, the real magic lies in… Why: “We don’t just create tools; we create solutions that help people spend less time in front of screens and more time living.”
Plans for the future
Looking ahead, Colin and his team imagine a future where artificial intelligence not only helps, but actively collaborates with us. The next evolution of Supernormal will focus on getting things done, allowing Norma to handle follow-up, draft emails, schedule meetings, and even generate creative content – all robotically.
“We spent years optimizing time spent in apps,” Colin said, referring to his previous work at Facebook. “Now it’s about saving time. This is where technology should deliver real value.”
The purpose of the Supernatural? To save billions of hours around the world, one meeting at a time.
Advice for entrepreneurs
Colin’s journey from competitive dinner parties in Boston to leading an modern AI startup is a testament to the power of persistence and adaptability. But it is also deeply human. As a father, runner and lifelong learner, Colin has built his company around a easy but profound idea: time is our most precious resource and we should always use it properly.
When asked what advice he would give to aspiring entrepreneurs: “Take care of yourself. When building something, it’s easy to sacrifice sleep, health, and relationships. But the best you can when you are balanced and present.”