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Plaud Named #38 on Andreessen Horowitz’s “Top 50 AI Apps That Startups Are Spending On" List

Plaud is ranked #38 on Andreessen Horowitz’s (a16z) AI Apps 50, a data-driven list of the top 50 AI applications that startups are actively investing in, based on spending data from fintech firm Mercury.

We’re proud to share that Plaud has been ranked #38 on Andreessen Horowitz’s recently released AI Apps 50, a data-driven look at the AI-native tools shaping the next generation of work. The list, based on spend across more than 200,000 companies, highlights where real teams are actually investing—not in theory, but in practice.

At Plaud, our mission is simple and ambitious: amplify human intelligence. We believe conversation is one of the purest forms of intelligence — where ideas spark, alignment happens, and decisions take shape. Yet much of that intelligence gets lost, uncaptured, and unused. Our wearable AI note-takers exist to close that gap.

Why This Recognition Matters

The a16z report highlights a major shift: startups are choosing AI-native workflows, not retrofitted tools. And within that shift, one category is accelerating faster than anyone expected: AI note-taking and conversation intelligence.

Plaud was recognized alongside cutting-edge products that are redefining what useful AI looks like. Tools that don’t just support work, but elevate it. Our appearance in the ranking reflects a growing truth: professionals who rely on real-world conversations and a dense exchange of information — executives, consultants, clinicians, sales teams, creators — are choosing Plaud as their trusted AI work companion.

Gray Plaud Note Pro recorders with ribbed bodies and a silver Plaud NotePin capsule.

Human-AI Alignment, Built for the Real World

What sets Plaud apart is our belief that intelligence doesn’t begin on screens, it begins in real moments. With our unique approach combining hardware and AI intelligence, Plaud captures what you say, hear, see, and think, uncovering the intelligence and transforming it into insights, clarity, and action.

We’re honored to stand alongside category-defining companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, Notion, Canva, and Midjourney. And even more honored to be part of a diverse community of over 1.5 million users worldwide.

This recognition is a signal: The future of work isn’t about doing more. It’s about thinking better.

And we’re just getting started.

Read the full report here on a16z.

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