Epicenter
YC S25San Francisco, US · Founded 2025 · 1 employees · 1 known investors
Epicenter builds a local-first, open-source platform for knowledge workers that uses plain text files and SQLite as a shared data substrate across multiple applications including transcription, note-taking, and AI querying tools. The platform is designed for individuals and developers who want to own their data, avoid cloud lock-in, and integrate with existing tools like Obsidian, VS Code, and language models.
AI & Machine LearningCloud ComputingConsumerDeveloper ToolsSaaSProductivityOpen SourceNote-takingAI AssistantUnited States of AmericaAmerica / Canada
Founders & leadership· Y Combinator alumni (S25)
Epicenter was founded in 2025 by Braden Wong.
BW
Braden WonginFounderBraden Wong studied ethics, politics, and economics at Yale, where he wrote a senior thesis on open-source governance and digital platforms. He has worked at three YC startups and maintains active involvement in software development.
Investors · 1
Competitors · 3
by search overlapOpenAI21 shared keywordsOpenAI is an AI research and deployment company focused on developing artificial general intelligence (AGI) with emphasis on safety and beneficial outcomes for humanity.
Hugging Face14 shared keywordsHugging Face is a collaboration platform that hosts and provides access to machine learning models, datasets, and applications. It offers both open-source tools for the ML community and paid compute and enterprise solutions for teams building AI applications.
Wispr Flow14 shared keywordsWispr Flow is a voice dictation platform that enables users to interact with devices and applications through natural conversation. The product targets consumers and professionals seeking faster, less screen-intensive communication and content creation.
Companies competing with Epicenter for the same Google search keywords, organic and paid, via search-intersection analysis.
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Frequently asked questions
- What does Epicenter do?
- Epicenter builds a local-first, open-source platform for knowledge workers that uses plain text files and SQLite as a shared data substrate across multiple applications including transcription, note-taking, and AI querying tools. The platform is designed for individuals and developers who want to own their data, avoid cloud lock-in, and integrate with existing tools like Obsidian, VS Code, and language models.
- Who founded Epicenter?
- Epicenter was founded by Braden Wong in 2025.
- Who are Epicenter's investors?
- Epicenter's investors include Y Combinator.
- Where is Epicenter headquartered?
- Epicenter is headquartered in San Francisco, US.



