Pool launches AI‑powered iOS app to organize screenshots

Pool’s AI‑driven app, called Pool, debuted on iOS today, promising to turn the chaotic collection of screenshots in users’ photo libraries into organized, searchable “pools” that link back to original sources [1].

Key takeaways

• The app automatically categorizes screenshots into personalized pools after accessing the photo library [2].
• AI links each screenshot to its source, such as a retailer’s site for product images or recipe details for Instagram captures [1].
• Pool was built by Maxime Junique and Piet Terheyden, who revived the project after a three‑year hiatus and a recent AI breakthrough [2].
• A pre‑seed round of just over $2 million was raised from General Catalyst, Kima Ventures, Source Ventures and several angels [1].
• The current version is free on iOS only; an Android release has not been announced [1].

From a van in Lisbon to a funded startup

The concept originated three years ago when co‑founders Maxime Junique and Piet Terheyden, living out of a van in Lisbon, built a prototype to solve their own screenshot overload [1]. They paused development to focus on profitable B2B SaaS products, including the CRM platform Waitless, which was acquired last year. The resurgence of the idea came with advances in artificial intelligence, which the founders say made it feasible to interpret large, unstructured personal datasets [2]. After securing a pre‑seed round of just over $2 million from investors such as General Catalyst, Kima Ventures, and Source Ventures, the team—now based in Lisbon—plans a trip to San Francisco in late May to meet additional investors [1].

How Pool turns screenshots into actionable memories

Upon installation, Pool requests permission to read the user’s photo library and then isolates screenshots, grouping them into “pools” that reflect the user’s saved content, whether products, recipes, travel ideas, or quotes [2]. The AI engine traces each image back to its original web link, enabling users to tap a screenshot of a product and be taken directly to the retailer’s page, or to retrieve ingredients and instructions for a recipe captured from Instagram [1]. The app also treats screenshots as time‑sensitive memories; for example, a barcode for an event ticket may be deprioritized after the event passes, while a flyer for an upcoming event can trigger the AI to suggest ticket‑purchase options [2]. Users can search manually or ask the built‑in AI assistant for help, and a small rubber‑duck mascot serves as the entry point to the app, hinting at a future personal‑assistant product [2].

Why it matters

Screenshots have become a default method for saving online content, but most remain unreferenced after capture. By applying AI to automatically sort and reconnect these images to their sources, Pool offers a practical solution for everyday smartphone users who struggle to locate saved information [1]. The approach highlights a shift in consumer AI toward managing personal, emotionally‑laden data rather than purely productivity‑focused datasets. While the app is currently iOS‑only, its founders suggest the underlying technology could eventually expand to other forms of personal data, signaling broader possibilities for AI‑enhanced personal organization.