Challenge
Glean.ly is a secure, centralised online repository designed to store and organise a company’s research and knowledge. What made this project unique was that Glean.ly had paying clients before the product itself was fully developed. This presented an exciting opportunity to build the platform in close collaboration with real users, ensuring that every feature directly addressed the needs of active research teams from day one.
With such high-profile clients on board early, two critical technical challenges shaped the development approach. First was the issue of security: as the platform stores highly sensitive, business-critical data, it was essential to implement robust protections to prevent breaches or data loss. Every decision—from infrastructure to interface—was made with data integrity and security at the core.
The second key requirement was scalability. Since Glean.ly's initial user base included large blue-chip enterprises, the platform had to be capable of handling substantial load and complex usage patterns from the outset. We architected the system to be both flexible and resilient, ensuring that performance would remain stable regardless of scale. The result is a platform that not only meets today’s needs but is built to grow and adapt alongside its users.
The Solution
The development of Glean.ly was a carefully managed process, beginning with a deep discovery phase and culminating in a fully functional beta release. From the outset, the focus was on creating a tool that met the high standards of its users—primarily product teams and researchers who demand both reliability and usability. The beta launch was met with widespread acclaim, validating the product’s direction and confirming its relevance in a competitive market.
Following the beta release, momentum continued to build rapidly. Within just nine months, Glean.ly achieved profitability—a significant milestone for any software platform, especially one aimed at enterprise-level clients. The business has since maintained a healthy growth trajectory, successfully onboarding some of the world’s most recognisable brands. The platform has found its niche among product professionals, delivering the kind of functionality and user experience they had long been seeking.
Technically, Glean.ly is built with a Laravel backend and a React frontend, offering both stability and a modern, responsive interface. This architecture allows for efficient performance and smooth scalability, even under the demands of enterprise-scale users. Laravel provides a secure and robust framework for managing critical data, while React ensures the interface remains fast, dynamic, and intuitive.
To support real-time collaboration and enhance user experience, we implemented a custom internal notification system. This ensures that all users are instantly aware of changes or updates, which is especially crucial for remote teams working asynchronously across different locations. By keeping everyone in sync, Glean.ly improves communication and reduces the risk of duplicated or outdated work.
Additionally, we designed the platform with flexibility and integration in mind. Through a powerful set of APIs, Glean.ly connects seamlessly with other tools and services, extending its capabilities far beyond the core platform. This approach enabled us to quickly develop and deploy complementary applications, such as a browser extension that allows users to capture and input data directly from anywhere on the web.
These technical and strategic choices have positioned Glean.ly as a forward-thinking and practical solution for research-driven organisations. By combining robust engineering with a commitment to user needs, we’ve helped the platform evolve into a trusted knowledge repository used by some of the world’s most demanding teams. The success of the launch and the ongoing growth are a testament to the power of building with users, not just for them.
Conclusion
Glean.ly stands as a shining example of what’s possible when you pair deep user insight with thoughtful, scalable technology. From early collaboration with real clients to a robust, enterprise-ready product, the journey has been driven by a genuine commitment to solving real problems for research and product teams. With security, usability, and flexibility at its core, Glean.ly isn’t just a tool—it’s a powerful enabler of knowledge sharing and smarter decision-making. As the platform continues to grow and evolve, it’s well positioned to become an essential part of how global organisations manage and leverage their research for meaningful impact.