A better way to self organize and run 1:1s
After 25 years building software (including running BoldMinded.com, where I've shipped ExpressionEngine add-ons to thousands of customers since 2012) and recently managing teams, I've used Lattice, 15Five, and Canopy. They all left me doing the same thing: keeping my real notes in Notion or Obsidian, then copy/pasting sanitized versions into whatever HR tool the company bought.
The problem wasn't just the extra work. Those tools don't actually help you run better 1:1s. They don't give you insight into how your team is doing or how they're feeling. They're built for HR departments, not for managers trying to have meaningful conversations.
I started building Confab when I was still an IC, knowing I'd eventually move back into management. I wanted a tool that matched how I actually think and work. For the past three months, I've been using it with my team every day. It works the way my brain works, and I think it might work the way yours does too.
Strong insight! Manager tools often optimize for reporting, not real conversations.
Since Confab will likely store candid 1:1 notes, there are a few sensitive angles to think about early:
• Can admins access private manager notes, or is there clear separation between HR visibility and personal coaching space?
• Do employees have any visibility or export rights over notes about them?
• If you use AI for summaries or insights, are those notes sent to third-party LLM providers, and is that clearly disclosed?
1:1 conversations often include performance concerns, mental health, compensation discussions. That data is high-trust by default.
We’re the Nautillo Pro security team, so we naturally ask these questions. We built Nautillo Pro for founders and teams who care about web app security and want to simulate real attack paths early. There’s a free version available, with DNS ownership validation required so only legitimate owners can test their own systems.
If you get the privacy model right, that will be a major differentiator in this space.
25 years shipping software — that context shows. The "HR tools don't help managers" insight is exactly right.
Curious: You've been using Confab with your team for 3 months. How are you validating that other managers (outside your direct network) will pay for this workflow before scaling the infrastructure?
I learned "works for me/my team" ≠ "market demand" the hard way ($20K, 3 months, zero sales). Now I test B2B tools with video prototypes — show the "Notion → Confab" workflow to managers, validate purchase intent, before the dev cycle.
Would love to hear your approach to expanding beyond the initial team.