A new mobile application called Avec is launching with the goal of helping users manage their inboxes and achieve “inbox zero” through a distinct user interface. Initially available on iOS, the app integrates a swipe-card system reminiscent of dating apps, alongside voice-based email replies.
The primary method for managing emails involves a stack of cards. Users can swipe left on an email to designate it for later attention, placing it in a “later” pile. A right swipe moves the email to a “done” or archive pile, indicating it has been dealt with.
A notable feature is the app’s voice reply capability. Users can hold a button to dictate an email response, which is then transcribed into a draft. This draft can be reviewed and edited before being sent. The developers highlight that Avec processes emails with full contextual awareness, allowing it to understand names, refine tone, and adapt to a user’s personal writing style, differentiating it from voice-to-text solutions that operate as separate keyboard apps.
Avec also offers a learning mechanism for email prioritization. Swiping down on an email marks it as unimportant, and the app gradually learns from these selections to group similar low-priority messages, reducing the need for individual triage. While the card-based interface is central, a traditional list view is also available.
Jonathan Unikowski, the app’s founder and a former product engineer at Replit, developed Avec to address what he identifies as a stagnant email experience that has seen little fundamental change in 25 years. He believes that good design combined with AI tools can significantly improve email management. The app is currently free for Gmail users in the U.S., with plans for Outlook support and future paid tiers. To date, Avec has raised $8.4 million in funding from investors including Lightspeed and Haystack, as well as several individual contributors.
Source: Original
