Polymail: The Inbox Built for Operators
Polymail: The Inbox Built for Operators
Polymail: The Inbox Built for Operators
Email is where real work happens. Deals begin here. Relationships strengthen here. Decisions move — or stall — here.
But over time, the inbox became crowded. Extensions, plug-ins, AI tools, schedulers, CRMs, and countless browser tabs piled up while the core of email stayed largely the same. In 2016, Polymail emerged onto the scene to offer a different approach: a true “power inbox” with next-level features operators didn’t even know they needed.
Originally founded by Brandon Foo, Shahan Khan, and Brandon Shin, Polymail introduced operator-first workflows that felt modern and intuitive. It was the first inbox to unveil:
Email is where real work happens. Deals begin here. Relationships strengthen here. Decisions move — or stall — here.
But over time, the inbox became crowded. Extensions, plug-ins, AI tools, schedulers, CRMs, and countless browser tabs piled up while the core of email stayed largely the same. In 2016, Polymail emerged onto the scene to offer a different approach: a true “power inbox” with next-level features operators didn’t even know they needed.
Originally founded by Brandon Foo, Shahan Khan, and Brandon Shin, Polymail introduced operator-first workflows that felt modern and intuitive. It was the first inbox to unveil:
Assurance that key messages landed and were read
Assurance that key messages landed and were read
Time-shift tools to ensure important threads resurface when needed
Time-shift tools to ensure important threads resurface when needed
Shared context to collaborate on threads without BCCing or forwarding threads
Shared context to collaborate on threads without BCCing or forwarding threads
Intuitive UI that keeps you in control and quickly becomes a key part of your day
Intuitive UI that keeps you in control and quickly becomes a key part of your day
Shortly after it was founded, Polymail participated in Y Combinator's Spring 2016 batch.
Teams at Uber, Coinbase, Reddit, and AngelList adopted it shortly thereafter. With time, tens of thousands of operators came to rely on it to run their day-to-day communications.
From the beginning, Polymail was built for clarity, speed, and thoughtful execution — values that still hold today.
A New Chapter — Grounded in Craft
A New Chapter — Grounded in Craft
A New Chapter —
Grounded in Craft
2016
2016
2016
Accepted into Y Combinator
Accepted into Y Combinator
Accepted into Y Combinator
A year after founding, Polymail is accepted into YC and quickly gains traction among founders looking for a faster "power inbox."
A year after founding, Polymail is accepted into YC and quickly gains traction among founders looking for a faster "power inbox."
A year after founding, Polymail is accepted into YC and quickly gains traction among founders looking for a faster "power inbox."
2019
2019
2019
Polymail Matures
Polymail Matures
Polymail Matures
Polymail sees sustained adoption from operators and teams, crossing 10,000 active users.
Polymail sees sustained adoption from operators and teams, crossing 10,000 active users.
Polymail sees sustained adoption from operators and teams, crossing 10,000 active users.
2022
2022
2022
Preserving the Core
Preserving the Core
Preserving the Core
Amid a post-COVID market reset, leadership transitions to early investor Ryan Mickle, who focused on stability, continuity, and preserving the product.
Amid a post-COVID market reset, leadership transitions to early investor Ryan Mickle, who focused on stability, continuity, and preserving the product.
Amid a post-COVID market reset, leadership transitions to early investor Ryan Mickle, who focused on stability, continuity, and preserving the product.
2025
2025
2025
The Next Era
The Next Era
The Next Era
Polymail enters its AI-native chapter with a new owner, Pulin Thakkar, and a renewed focus on simplicity, performance, and key workflows.
Polymail enters its AI-native chapter with a new owner, Pulin Thakkar, and a renewed focus on simplicity, performance, and key workflows.
Polymail enters its AI-native chapter with a new owner, Pulin Thakkar, and a renewed focus on simplicity, performance, and key workflows.
Work Changed.
Expectations Grew.
Work Changed.
Expectations Grew.
Work Changed.
Expectations Grew.
As AI entered the workflow and context-switching increased, operators found themselves juggling more tools than ever. The inbox remained central, but the world around it shifted. Through all of this, a loyal core community continued to depend on Polymail — a bright sign that its foundation was deeply needed in a landscape overwhelmed by noise.
As AI entered the workflow and context-switching increased, operators found themselves juggling more tools than ever. The inbox remained central, but the world around it shifted. Through all of this, a loyal core community continued to depend on Polymail — a bright sign that its foundation was deeply needed in a landscape overwhelmed by noise.
As AI entered the workflow and context-switching increased, operators found themselves juggling more tools than ever. The inbox remained central, but the world around it shifted. Through all of this, a loyal core community continued to depend on Polymail — a bright sign that its foundation was deeply needed in a landscape overwhelmed by noise.
Meet the CEO, Pulin Thakkar
Meet the CEO, Pulin Thakkar
Meet the CEO, Pulin Thakkar
Pulin is a longtime Polymail power user turned operator. Before acquiring Polymail, he spent years inside high-complexity workflows as a Microsoft engineer, founder, and operator — where clarity, speed, and reliability inside the inbox were non-negotiable.
Pulin is a longtime Polymail power user turned operator. Before acquiring Polymail, he spent years inside high-complexity workflows as a Microsoft engineer, founder, and operator — where clarity, speed, and reliability inside the inbox were non-negotiable.
Pulin is a longtime Polymail power user turned operator. Before acquiring Polymail, he spent years inside high-complexity workflows as a Microsoft engineer, founder, and operator — where clarity, speed, and reliability inside the inbox were non-negotiable.
While selling his previous company, he tested every email client on the market with the same rigor he applied to the deal. Polymail was the one that held up. He depended on it daily through a multi-year transaction, and that experience shaped his conviction about what modern email should feel like.
While selling his previous company, he tested every email client on the market with the same rigor he applied to the deal. Polymail was the one that held up. He depended on it daily through a multi-year transaction, and that experience shaped his conviction about what modern email should feel like.
While selling his previous company, he tested every email client on the market with the same rigor he applied to the deal. Polymail was the one that held up. He depended on it daily through a multi-year transaction, and that experience shaped his conviction about what modern email should feel like.
In 2025, he acquired Polymail to carry it into the AI-native era — preserving its simplicity, strengthening its core, and evolving the systems beneath it for the next decade.
In 2025, he acquired Polymail to carry it into the AI-native era — preserving its simplicity, strengthening its core, and evolving the systems beneath it for the next decade.
In 2025, he acquired Polymail to carry it into the AI-native era — preserving its simplicity, strengthening its core, and evolving the systems beneath it for the next decade.
Our Mission Today
Our Mission Today
Our Mission Today
We believe email remains the most universal but underused channel in business. In an AI-driven world, its potential is greater than ever.
We believe email remains the most universal but underused channel in business. In an AI-driven world, its potential is greater than ever.
We believe email remains the most universal but underused channel in business. In an AI-driven world, its potential is greater than ever.
Today, our focus is to continue building the most modern inbox in the world — the one entrepreneurs both need and deserve.
Today, our focus is to continue building the most modern inbox in the world — the one entrepreneurs both need and deserve.
Today, our focus is to continue building the most modern inbox in the world — the one entrepreneurs both need and deserve.
Polymail’s mission:
Polymail’s mission:
Polymail’s mission:
Make the inbox powerful for operators and deal-makers
Make the inbox powerful for operators and deal-makers
Make the inbox powerful for operators and deal-makers
Preserve the clarity that defined Polymail from the start
Preserve the clarity that defined Polymail from the start
Preserve the clarity that defined Polymail from the start
Thoughtfully embed AI to improve efficiency and speed
Thoughtfully embed AI to improve efficiency and speed
Thoughtfully embed AI to improve efficiency and speed
Reduce tool sprawl, context-switching, and complexity
Reduce tool sprawl, context-switching, and complexity
Reduce tool sprawl, context-switching, and complexity
Design with intention, taste, and craft
Design with intention, taste, and craft
Design with intention, taste, and craft
Help Shape the Next Chapter of Polymail
Help Shape the Next Chapter of Polymail
Help Shape the Next Chapter of Polymail
Polymail’s next chapter is being built alongside founders and operators who care deeply about intelligent workflows. If email is core to how you work, we would value your perspective.
Polymail’s next chapter is being built alongside founders and operators who care deeply about intelligent workflows. If email is core to how you work, we would value your perspective.
Polymail’s next chapter is being built alongside founders and operators who care deeply about intelligent workflows. If email is core to how you work, we would value your perspective.
Our story
From YC beginnings to a thoughtful rebuild in 2025, Polymail is entering a new era shaped by the people who loved it most.
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Copyright © 2026 Polymail
Our story
From YC beginnings to a thoughtful rebuild in 2025, Polymail is entering a new era shaped by the people who loved it most.
Subscribe for Updates
Company
Trust & Community
Social Links
Copyright © 2026 Polymail
Our story
From YC beginnings to a thoughtful rebuild in 2025, Polymail is entering a new era shaped by the people who loved it most.
Subscribe for Updates
Company
Trust & Community
Social Links
Copyright © 2026 Polymail
Our story
From YC beginnings to a thoughtful rebuild in 2025, Polymail is entering a new era shaped by the people who loved it most.
Subscribe for Updates
Company
Trust & Community
Social Links
Copyright © 2026 Polymail