I get asked about my go-to business tools constantly, so here’s my current “business in a box” stack.
Granola
My note-taking tool of choice these days.
Granola automatically transcribes and organizes meeting notes with AI, making it perfect for keeping track of client calls and brainstorming sessions.
Lindy AI
Handles my AI automations seamlessly.
This tool creates custom AI workflows that can manage everything from email responses to data entry, saving hours of repetitive work.
Perplexity
My go-to LLM for research and quick answers.
Unlike ChatGPT, Perplexity cites real-time sources and gives you up-to-date information, making it incredibly reliable for business research.
Oceans
Where I find all my offshore talent.
Oceans specializes in connecting you with pre-vetted remote workers from specific regions, streamlining the entire hiring process.
HubSpot
My CRM backbone for managing all customer relationships.
HubSpot’s free tier is incredibly robust, and their sales pipeline tools make tracking deals effortless.
Clay
Enriches my CRM data with additional contact information.
Clay automatically finds email addresses, social profiles, and company data to fill in the gaps that HubSpot misses.
Mercury
My business banking solution that actually works for startups.
Mercury offers real banking built for modern businesses, with no minimum balances and excellent API integrations.
Ramp
Keeps my business spending organized and under control.
Ramp’s corporate cards come with automatic expense categorization and spending controls that save me hours of bookkeeping.
Fuelfinance
My FP&A solution for financial planning and analysis.
Fuelfinance makes cash flow forecasting and financial reporting simple, even for non-finance people like me.
Superhuman
The email client that makes inbox zero actually achievable.
Superhuman’s keyboard shortcuts and AI-powered features turn email management from a chore into something almost enjoyable.
storyarb
My secret weapon for B2B content creation.
storyarb helps create compelling business narratives and case studies that actually convert prospects into customers.
Beehiiv
My email service provider for newsletters and campaigns.
Beehiiv combines the simplicity of Substack with the power of professional email marketing tools, perfect for growing an audience.
Conclusion
These tools form the core of my business operations.
Here’s a quick rundown:
- Granola – Note-taking
- Lindy AI – AI automations
- Perplexity – LLM
- Oceans – Offshore hiring
- HubSpot – CRM
- Clay – CRM Enrichment
- Mercury – Business Banking
- Ramp – Spend Management
- Fuelfinance – FP&A solution
- Superhuman – Email Client
- storyarb – B2B content creation
- Beehiiv – ESP
Each one solves a specific problem and integrates well with the others.
The key is finding tools that actually save you time rather than creating more complexity.