Why We Built Coherence: A Founder's Perspective

It Started with Frustration

Like most founders, I didn't set out to build a CRM. I set out to solve a problem that was a daily struggle.

I worked in software consulting, and every day felt like a battle against my own tools. My inbox was a mess of client and internal conversations. Our CRM was only for Sales and getting information from them was always a challenge and didn't allow us to keep our own notes in the same system about the same clients we all worked on and managed everyday. My calendar, notes, and tasks lived in three different apps that didn't talk to each other and teams used different systems all for different lifecyles of work for the same client.

I wasn't able to efficiently run the business because I was constantly managing the software or tracking down some piece of information.

The Moment of Clarity

One afternoon, a longtime client messaged to follow up on a proposal a Salesperson had sent, but the Sales Exec was no longer with our company. Simple enough - except I couldn't find the proposal. It was somewhere in an email, attached to a thread I couldn't locate because the Salesperson didn't CC me on it.

I spent 15 minutes searching while my client waited. Embarrassing? Absolutely. But more than that, it was clarifying.

I realized the problem wasn't my organizational skills. The problem was that the tools we used. Why counldn't we all use the same system of record and have access to the full lifecycle of interactions with our clients, all connected for the way work actually happens.

The Principles Behind Coherence

That frustrating afternoon led to a set of principles that guide everything we build:

1. Your data should connect automatically

If you send an email to a client, that email should automatically appear in that client's record. You shouldn't have to log it, file it, or copy-paste a link. The connection should just exist.

2. Your workspace should match your business

Every business is different. A consulting firm tracks engagements and deliverables. An agency tracks campaigns and retainers. A service company tracks jobs and crews. Your tools should adapt to your way of work, not force you into someone else's.

3. AI should handle busywork, not make decisions

We're not trying to replace human judgment. We're trying to eliminate the tedious work that keeps you from using that judgment. Summarize long email threads. Suggest where records should link. Extract action items. The boring stuff.

4. Simple to start, powerful when you need it

You should be able to connect your email and start working in minutes. But when you're ready to build custom workflows, create complex views, or integrate with other tools, that power should be there.

What We Learned Building This

Building Coherence taught us a lot:

Users don't want features - they want less friction. Every feature we've added has been evaluated through one lens: does this reduce friction in someone's workday?

Defaults matter more than options. It's tempting to make everything configurable. But great defaults mean users get value immediately, without having to set anything up.

Email is still the center of gravity. Despite all the new communication tools, email remains where most business relationships live. Any system that ignores email is fighting reality.

The Road Ahead

We're just getting started. Coherence today handles email, contacts, calendars, tasks, and custom modules. But our vision is bigger:

• Deep integrations with the other tools your business runs on
• Automation that handles routine processes end-to-end
• Mobile experiences that don't feel like an afterthought
• APIs that let you extend Coherence in ways we haven't imagined

Most importantly, we're committed to building this with you - our users. Every feature we ship is informed by real conversations, real frustrations, and real workflows.

Join Us

If you've ever felt like your tools are fighting against you instead of working for you, Coherence might be what you've been looking for.

We'd love to have you along for the ride.

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