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Steno

Transform real-time voice into structured enterprise execution instantly

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Knowledge workers lose over 15 hours every week manually typing notes, updating CRMs, and drafting technical specs across fragmented desktop applications.

By combining zero-trust local speech recognition with custom contextual macros, executives and operators dictate complex commands, PRDs, and client updates directly into any macOS app. The system automatically extracts action items, reformats prose for the active window context, and executes multi-step system shortcuts seamlessly. All processing remains entirely on-device, guaranteeing zero data exposure and instant feedback.

Steno is pioneering the local-first voice computing tier for high-consequence enterprise environments.

COMMENTS — Community Discussion
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Problem
  • When I dictate sensitive client updates during executive calls, I want to capture precise notes instantly, but cloud transcription services violate corporate privacy policies and introduce immersion-breaking output latency.
  • Why Now: Local neural engines on modern workstations now deliver sub-50ms inference, enabling real-time on-device speech-to-text without relying on cloud APIs.
  • When I write complex documentation across multiple desktop apps, I want to maintain focus, but standard voice dictation produces raw unformatted text blobs that require heavy manual editing.
  • When I work offline or on high-security networks, I want full voice-to-action productivity, but cloud-dependent voice tools fail completely without active internet connections.
  • Existing Alternatives: Apple built-in dictation with basic accuracy, cloud voice tools like Wispr Flow or Otter that fail compliance checks, and tedious manual typing.
Solution
  • High-Level Concept: Raycast combined with local Whisper for enterprise power users.
  • On-Device Neural Engine: Zero-latency local speech-to-text running entirely on local GPU cores with absolute air-gapped security.
  • Context-Aware Active Window Injection: Reads the active desktop app context to auto-format voice output into structured markdown, Jira tickets, or CRM fields.
  • Voice Macro Automation: Custom spoken trigger phrases that execute complex multi-app keyboard shortcuts, local scripts, and structured database entries.
Distribution
  • Early Adopters: Security-obsessed engineering managers, partners at boutique law firms, and medical executives on Apple Silicon hardware.
  • Guerrilla Channel 1: Exclusive launch on Raycast extension marketplace and macOS utility forums showcasing zero-latency live side-by-side performance demos.
  • Guerrilla Channel 2: Targeted outreach to Chief Information Security Officers at mid-market healthcare and fintech firms needing compliant dictation tools.
  • Guerrilla Channel 3: Open-source local model benchmark campaign comparing Steno local GPU performance against top cloud dictation tools.
Pricing
  • Value Ladder: Free Tier ($0 for local dictation without custom macros)
  • Pro ($20 per seat per month for active window context and unlimited voice macros)
  • Enterprise ($40 per seat per month for centralized policy management, SSO, and custom local fine-tuned models).
  • One Metric That Matters [OMTM]: Total active daily dictation words spoken per user.
  • Market Sizing: SAM = 500k security-conscious macOS knowledge workers ($120M annual potential); SOM Year 1 = 10k paid Pro users yielding $2.4M ARR.
Scale Costs
  • On-going engineering research for custom local model quantizations and low-bit neural whisper weights fine-tuning.
  • Desktop application code signing certificates, Apple developer enterprise notarization pipelines, and SOC2 Type II compliance audits.
  • High-ticket developer support and specialized macOS hardware test benches for legacy and upcoming M-series architectures.
Expert Opinions
Avg: 9.5
  • world-class macOS system architect and desktop performance lead with $100M+ ARR experience
    9.8
  • world-famous Enterprise Security Officer and zero-trust compliance expert
    9.5
  • leading product strategist for developer workflows and high-velocity productivity tools
    9.2
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