The Paris-born solution that’s proving you don’t need a computer science degree to achieve powerful relationship management, transforming complex CRM systems into surprisingly simple operations with collaborative features and genuine human-centered design

Executive Summary

Product Name & Vendor:

folk by folk, Inc., founded in 2020 by Thibaud Elziere, Jean-Yves Poilleux, and Simo Lemhandez within the European startup studio eFounders and headquartered in Paris, France. The company emerged from recognizing that traditional CRMs were too rigid and sales-focused, leaving out teams that needed to manage different types of contacts like investors, journalists, candidates, and partners. Originally developed as an internal tool called “ContactX” at eFounders, the founders realized the pain of managing contacts wasn’t limited to their startup studio but was experienced by almost every team that needed to manage external relationships. Since founding, folk has grown to serve over 300,000 users and 3,000+ paying customers globally, with $9 million raised from Accel and angel investors.

Quick Overview:

folk is a complete cloud-based CRM and contact management platform that provides contact management, pipeline management, email campaigns, and team collaboration features with a spreadsheet-like interface and modern design. Unlike traditional CRMs built specifically for sales teams, folk specializes in flexible relationship management for any type of contact including clients, prospects, partners, journalists, candidates, and suppliers. The platform transforms complex CRM management into simple operations accessible via web browsers and mobile apps.

Who Should Read:

This article helps small business owners seeking simple yet powerful contact management, startups needing flexible CRM solutions without complexity, sales teams wanting collaborative pipeline management, and agencies managing multiple client relationships. It’s valuable for recruitment professionals tracking candidates, partnership teams managing business relationships, freelancers organizing their network, and any team wanting to move beyond spreadsheets while maintaining simplicity and control over their contact management processes.

Product Snapshot

Target Audience:

Industries:

folk works well for professional services firms managing client relationships, creative agencies tracking projects and contacts, recruitment companies managing candidate pipelines, and technology startups building their network and partnerships. The platform also serves real estate professionals managing leads and properties, consulting firms tracking prospects and projects, media companies managing sources and contacts, and educational institutions handling alumni and donor relationships.

Company Sizes:

The platform serves everyone from individual freelancers and solo professionals to growing teams up to 50 employees, with particular strength among startups (1-20 employees) building their initial CRM processes, small businesses (5-50 employees) needing collaborative contact management, agencies managing multiple client relationships, and growing companies requiring scalable yet simple relationship management.

User Roles:

Main users include sales professionals managing prospect relationships, business development teams tracking partnership opportunities, recruiters managing candidate pipelines, agency account managers handling client relationships, and entrepreneurs building their professional network. The platform also serves marketing professionals managing campaigns and contacts, operations coordinators tracking vendor relationships, and startup founders managing investor and advisor communications.

Deployment Options:

folk runs completely in the cloud with no on-premises infrastructure required, accessible through modern web browsers on any device with responsive mobile capabilities for contact management on the go. The platform offers cloud-hosted services with high availability, automatic updates, SSL security, and global accessibility for managing contacts and relationships. Advanced deployment includes API access, webhook integrations, team collaboration features, and Chrome extension for seamless contact import.

Core Capabilities

Primary Features:

Complete Contact and Relationship Management:
folk’s main feature is its flexible contact management system that works like a smart spreadsheet, allowing users to organize contacts, companies, and relationships in custom groups and categories. The platform provides detailed contact profiles with customizable fields, automatic duplicate detection, relationship tracking between contacts, and intelligent contact enrichment. Features include contact import from various sources, automatic data syncing with email and calendar systems, tag-based organization, and collaborative contact sharing across team members.
Flexible Pipeline and Deal Management:
The platform excels at visual pipeline management with drag-and-drop functionality, customizable pipeline stages, and collaborative deal tracking. Users can create multiple pipelines for different processes (sales, recruitment, partnerships), track deal progress through visual boards, set reminders and follow-up tasks, and collaborate on opportunities. Advanced features include custom pipeline creation for any workflow, automated stage progression, deal analytics and reporting, and team activity tracking.
Integrated Email Campaigns and Sequences:
folk provides native email marketing capabilities including personalized bulk email campaigns, automated follow-up sequences, email template creation, and detailed campaign analytics. Users can send targeted emails to contact segments, track open rates and click-through rates, create reusable email templates, and set up automated drip campaigns. Advanced capabilities include AI-powered email generation, personalized messaging with dynamic fields, email scheduling, and integration with existing email providers.
Team Collaboration and Sharing:
The platform offers complete team collaboration features including shared contact databases, collaborative pipeline management, team activity feeds, and real-time updates. Features include role-based access controls, team member assignments, shared notes and interactions, and activity tracking across all team members.

Specialized Modules:

folkX Chrome Extension and Social Integration:
Advanced contact import capabilities through the folkX Chrome extension enabling one-click contact import from LinkedIn, Twitter, company websites, and other platforms. Features include automatic data extraction, intelligent field mapping, bulk contact import, and seamless integration with social media profiles. Advanced capabilities include contact enrichment from multiple data sources, automatic company linking, and social media profile integration.
AI-Powered Features and Magic Fields:
Intelligent automation including AI-powered email generation, automated contact scoring, predictive analytics, and smart data enrichment. AI features include personalized email draft generation, intelligent contact recommendations, automated follow-up suggestions, and predictive lead scoring. Advanced capabilities include natural language processing for contact insights, automated task creation, and intelligent pipeline recommendations.
Custom Workflows and Automation:
Complete workflow automation including custom pipeline creation, automated task assignments, intelligent reminders, and rule-based contact management. Features include trigger-based automation, custom workflow builders, automated email sequences, and intelligent notifications. Advanced capabilities include complex multi-step workflows, conditional logic processing, and integration-based automation.
Mobile and Multi-Platform Access:
Complete mobile functionality through responsive web design and dedicated mobile capabilities enabling contact management, pipeline updates, and team collaboration on any device. Mobile features include offline access, push notifications, mobile-optimized interfaces, and seamless synchronization across devices.

Integrations:

folk integrates seamlessly with major business tools including Gmail, Outlook, Google Calendar, Zapier, Slack, LinkedIn, and thousands of other applications through native connections and automation platforms. The platform offers API access, webhook support, and deep integrations with email providers, calendar systems, and productivity tools.

AI & Technology Deep Dive

folk leverages modern technology and intelligent automation specifically designed for intuitive relationship management, team collaboration, and business process optimization while maintaining accessibility for users of all technical skill levels.

AI-Powered Relationship Intelligence:
The platform utilizes advanced artificial intelligence through AI-powered email generation, intelligent contact scoring, automated follow-up suggestions, and predictive relationship insights. AI capabilities include natural language processing for email creation, machine learning for contact recommendations, predictive analytics for relationship opportunities, and automated task generation based on contact interactions.
Intelligent Contact Enrichment and Data Processing:
folk implements sophisticated data enrichment including automatic contact completion, company information discovery, social media profile linking, and intelligent duplicate detection. The platform processes contact information from multiple sources, automatically fills missing contact details, suggests relationship connections, and maintains data accuracy through intelligent matching algorithms.
Cloud-Native Architecture and Performance:
Built on Amazon Web Services (AWS) infrastructure, folk ensures high availability, scalable performance, and global accessibility through modern cloud architecture. The platform provides fast loading times (1 second per page), real-time data synchronization, automatic scaling for growing teams, and reliable performance across different geographic locations.
Advanced Integration and Automation Technology:
The platform maintains sophisticated integration capabilities including native API access, webhook support, and seamless connectivity with business tools through Zapier, Make, and direct integrations. Advanced capabilities include real-time data synchronization, automated workflow triggers, custom integration development, and complete business process automation.
Modern Web Technology and User Experience:
folk delivers complete functionality through modern web technologies including responsive design, progressive web application capabilities, real-time collaboration features, and cross-platform compatibility ensuring consistent user experience across all devices.

Value Proposition

Business Impact:

Dramatically Simplified Relationship Management:

folk enables teams to manage all types of relationships through a single, intuitive platform that works like a familiar spreadsheet but with powerful CRM capabilities. Organizations report significant improvements in contact organization, team collaboration, and relationship tracking while eliminating the complexity and rigidity of traditional CRMs. The platform transforms scattered contact management from spreadsheets and email into organized, collaborative relationship management.

Enhanced Team Collaboration and Productivity:

Teams using folk typically achieve improved collaboration through shared contact databases, collaborative pipeline management, and real-time activity tracking. Businesses benefit from unified contact management, improved communication coordination, and better relationship visibility across all team members. The platform ensures everyone has access to the same contact information and relationship history.

Cost-Effective Professional Contact Management:

The platform enables businesses to implement professional CRM capabilities starting at $20/month per user while providing enterprise-grade features like automation, integrations, and advanced analytics. Companies achieve significant cost savings compared to traditional CRM platforms while maintaining powerful relationship management capabilities.

ROI & Cost Savings:

Substantial Implementation and Training Cost Reduction:

Organizations typically save 60-80% on CRM implementation costs compared to traditional enterprise CRM systems through folk’s intuitive, spreadsheet-like interface that requires minimal training. Teams can be productive within hours rather than weeks, redirecting resources toward relationship building rather than system administration.

Improved Relationship Management Efficiency:

Companies achieve significant productivity gains through automated contact enrichment, intelligent email sequences, and streamlined pipeline management. The platform enables faster response times, better follow-up consistency, and improved relationship tracking leading to stronger business relationships and higher conversion rates.

Long-term Scalability and Flexibility Value:

Businesses benefit from a CRM system that grows with their needs, from individual use to team collaboration to advanced automation, without requiring migration to different platforms. folk provides long-term value through consistent pricing, continuous feature development, and flexible customization.

User Experience

Interface & Usability:

folk features an exceptionally intuitive interface that combines the familiarity of spreadsheets with the power of modern CRM functionality. Users consistently praise the clean, modern design that makes contact management accessible to anyone, regardless of technical skill level. The platform maintains visual appeal with fast loading times, logical navigation, and a learning curve measured in minutes rather than days or weeks.

Customization:

Extensive customization options include flexible contact fields, custom pipeline stages, personalized dashboard views, and adaptable workflow configurations. Advanced options include custom contact groups, tailored email templates, personalized automation rules, and flexible reporting configurations. Users can adapt folk to work with any business process, from sales pipelines to recruitment workflows to partnership management.

Accessibility:

Complete platform functionality works seamlessly across desktop computers, tablets, and smartphones through responsive web design and optimized mobile interfaces. The cloud-based architecture ensures consistent access to all features from any location with internet connectivity, while mobile capabilities enable full contact management, pipeline updates, and team collaboration.

Security & Compliance

Data Protection:

Enterprise-Grade Security Infrastructure:

folk maintains complete data protection through advanced security measures including SOC 2 Type I compliance certification, complete encryption for all data transmission and storage, multi-factor authentication requirements, and detailed security monitoring. The platform implements multi-layered security including secure cloud hosting on Amazon Web Services, regular security audits, automated backup systems, and complete access controls ensuring complete protection of sensitive contact and business data.

SOC 2 Type I Compliance and Security Standards:

folk has successfully achieved SOC 2 Type I certification for 2024-2025, demonstrating complete security controls including secure access management, data protection procedures, system monitoring, and incident response protocols. The platform maintains detailed security documentation and undergoes regular third-party security audits to ensure continuous compliance with industry standards.

GDPR and Privacy Compliance:

The platform achieves full GDPR compliance with complete privacy controls including automated consent management, data subject rights fulfillment, transparent data processing practices, and detailed audit trails. Compliance features include data portability tools, secure deletion capabilities, privacy policy integration, and complete documentation aligned with European and international privacy regulations.

Complete Technical Security Platform:

folk implements sophisticated security infrastructure including AWS-hosted secure cloud environment in North Virginia (us-east-1) region, multi-availability zone deployment, secure API endpoints, and complete monitoring systems. The platform provides role-based access controls, session management, IP address restrictions, and detailed activity logging ensuring both technical and organizational security measures.

Pricing & Packages

Pricing Structure:

folk uses transparent, user-based pricing with three clear tiers designed to accommodate individuals through growing teams. The platform provides predictable monthly costs that scale with team size while including complete features, unlimited contacts, and complete support with no hidden fees.

Plan Comparison:

Plan	Monthly Price	Annual Price	Key Features	Best For
Standard	$25/user	$20/user/month	Unlimited contacts, email sequences, pipeline management, Chrome extension, basic integrations	Small teams, startups, individual professionals
Premium	$50/user	$40/user/month	Everything in Standard plus AI features, advanced automation, priority support, advanced integrations, custom fields	Growing businesses, agencies, advanced users
Custom	$100/user+	$80/user+/month	Everything in Premium plus unlimited features, dedicated account manager, custom integrations, enterprise support	Large teams, enterprise needs, complex requirements

Additional Benefits:

Free Plan: Available for up to 200 contacts with basic features
14-Day Free Trial: Complete access to all features for evaluation
No Setup Fees: Transparent pricing with no implementation costs
Annual Savings: Up to 20% discount with annual billing
Team Collaboration: All plans include unlimited team collaboration features

Trial Options:

folk provides a complete free plan for up to 200 contacts and a 14-day free trial of all premium features, enabling users to fully evaluate the platform’s capabilities including automation, AI features, and advanced integrations.

Implementation & Onboarding

folk provides one of the most straightforward implementation processes in CRM software, designed for immediate productivity without technical complexity.

Phase	Timeline	Activities
Initial Setup and Import	Hours 1-4	Account creation, contact import from email/LinkedIn, team member invitations, basic configuration
Customization and Organization	Days 1-3	Pipeline creation, custom field setup, contact grouping, email template creation, workflow configuration
Team Collaboration and Training	Days 3-7	Team onboarding, permission setup, collaboration features, advanced feature training, workflow optimization
Advanced Features and Automation	Days 7-14	AI feature activation, automation setup, integration configuration, advanced workflow creation, performance optimization
Full Deployment and Optimization	Days 14+	Complete system utilization, advanced analytics, continuous optimization, team performance monitoring

Immediate Value Realization:

folk’s intuitive design enables users to start managing contacts and relationships within minutes of account creation through automated contact import, intelligent data organization, and familiar spreadsheet-like interface. The platform provides instant value through immediate contact visibility, automated data enrichment, and seamless team collaboration.

Complete Onboarding Support:

While designed for intuitive self-service use, folk includes complete onboarding resources including personalized setup assistance, detailed video tutorials, implementation best practices, and responsive customer support. The platform provides guided setup processes, template workflows, and ongoing optimization support.

Scalable Growth Path:

folk accommodates various business growth scenarios from individual use to team collaboration to enterprise deployment, providing seamless feature adoption and team scaling without requiring migration or technical reconfiguration. The platform supports gradual feature adoption, progressive automation implementation, and flexible customization.

Support & Resources

Customer Support:

folk provides exceptional customer support designed for teams of all sizes and technical skill levels, with responsive assistance through multiple channels including live chat, email support, and extensive help resources. The support team receives consistently outstanding reviews for quick response times (typically within minutes for live chat), knowledgeable assistance, and patient guidance with both simple and complex implementation challenges.

Support Channels:

Live Chat Support: Instant assistance available through the platform with knowledgeable support specialists
Email and Ticket System: Complete support with detailed responses and follow-up for complex issues
Complete Help Center: Extensive documentation covering all features, best practices, and implementation guides
Video Tutorials: Step-by-step video guides covering platform setup, advanced features, and optimization strategies
Community Resources: Active user community and knowledge sharing through forums and user groups

Hours:

Support operates through complete coverage including live chat during business hours, email support with rapid response times, extensive self-service resources available continuously, and proactive assistance during onboarding and feature implementation.

Responsiveness:

folk maintains exceptional support responsiveness with users consistently highlighting immediate chat availability, knowledgeable and helpful guidance, quick problem resolution, and personalized assistance that goes beyond basic technical support. Customer feedback shows strong appreciation for the support team’s understanding of business processes.

Learning Resources:

Complete Video Tutorial Library: Detailed guides covering platform setup, advanced features, and business process optimization
Implementation Best Practices: Step-by-step documentation for common use cases, workflow setup, and team collaboration
Business Process Guides: Regular content covering relationship management best practices, sales process optimization, and team collaboration strategies

Customer Insights

User Ratings:

Capterra: 4.4/5 stars (18 reviews) highlighting ease of use, customization capabilities, and excellent customer support
G2: 4.5/5 stars (230 reviews) emphasizing intuitive interface, powerful features, and strong value for money
Product Hunt: 4.8/5 stars (178 reviews) focusing on innovative design, user-friendly approach, and collaborative features
User Testimonials: Consistently positive feedback about platform simplicity, implementation speed, and customer success outcomes
Industry Recognition: Winner of Product Hunt #1 Product of the Month and Golden Kitty Awards for 2022 and 2023

Feedback Trends:

Users consistently praise folk’s exceptional ease of use that eliminates CRM complexity while providing powerful functionality, outstanding customer support providing rapid, knowledgeable assistance that exceeds expectations, flexible customization capabilities that adapt to any business workflow without technical expertise, and collaborative team features that improve coordination and relationship management. Customers appreciate the platform’s spreadsheet-like familiarity combined with modern CRM capabilities, automatic contact enrichment that saves significant time, and transparent pricing without hidden fees. Common improvement requests center on enhanced mobile app functionality, more advanced reporting capabilities, additional integration options, and expanded automation features.

Professional Recognition:

The platform has earned recognition as an innovative next-generation CRM solution, inclusion in top CRM comparison reviews highlighting user satisfaction and design excellence, and positive coverage for revolutionizing relationship management through simplicity and collaboration. Customer testimonials consistently demonstrate measurable improvements in contact organization, team productivity, relationship management effectiveness, and business growth through systematic contact management that replaces chaotic spreadsheet approaches.

Real-World Applications

Startup Sales and Business Development:
A technology startup used folk to manage their entire sales pipeline from lead generation through deal closure, organizing prospects by industry, tracking partnership opportunities, and managing investor relationships. Implementation involved importing contacts from LinkedIn and email, creating custom pipelines for different deal types, setting up automated follow-up sequences, and establishing team collaboration workflows. The system enabled streamlined lead qualification, consistent follow-up processes, and improved deal visibility. Results demonstrate 5x year-over-year revenue growth, improved sales team collaboration, and enhanced relationship management.
Creative Agency Client Management:
A growing marketing agency implemented folk to manage client relationships, track project opportunities, and coordinate team communications across multiple client accounts. Implementation included contact organization by client type, pipeline creation for project stages, email campaign setup for client communication, and integration with existing project management tools. The platform enabled centralized client communication, improved project tracking, and better team coordination. Results show enhanced client satisfaction, improved project delivery efficiency, and streamlined agency operations.
Recruitment and Talent Management:
A boutique recruitment firm used folk to manage candidate pipelines, track client requirements, and coordinate hiring processes across multiple industries. Implementation involved candidate profile creation, custom pipeline setup for different recruitment stages, automated email sequences for candidate communication, and team collaboration features for coordinated hiring efforts. The system provided complete candidate tracking, automated communication workflows, and improved collaboration between recruiters. Results demonstrate improved placement rates, faster time-to-hire, and enhanced candidate experience.
Business Partnership Development: A professional services company implemented folk to manage partnership opportunities, track potential collaborators, and coordinate busine
ss development activities across different market segments. Implementation included partner profile organization, opportunity pipeline creation, relationship tracking between different organizations, and automated outreach campaigns for partnership development. The platform enabled systematic partnership management, consistent follow-up processes, and improved collaboration between business development team members. Results show increased partnership agreements, improved relationship tracking, and enhanced business development efficiency.

Alternatives & Market Position

Top Competitors:

Within the CRM and contact management sector, folk competes against various platforms serving different market segments and organizational needs. HubSpot CRM offers complete marketing integration but with higher complexity and learning curve. Pipedrive provides strong sales-focused features but less flexibility for non-sales use cases. Copper offers good Google Workspace integration but limited customization options. Monday CRM provides project management integration but less relationship management focus. Notion offers database flexibility but requires more technical setup for CRM functionality.

Feature & Pricing Comparison:

Feature	folk	HubSpot CRM	Pipedrive	Copper	Monday CRM	Notion
Starting Price	Free (200 contacts)	Free (limited)	$14.90/user/month	$25/user/month	$10/user/month	$8/user/month
Paid Plans	$20-80/user/month	$45-1200/user/month	$14.90-99/user/month	$25-119/user/month	$10-24/user/month	$8-16/user/month
Ease of Use	Excellent (spreadsheet-like)	Moderate (complex features)	Good (sales-focused)	Good (Google integration)	Good (visual boards)	Moderate (requires setup)
Customization	Excellent (any workflow)	Good (marketing focus)	Moderate (sales pipelines)	Limited (Google-centric)	Good (project focus)	Excellent (requires technical skill)
Team Collaboration	Excellent (real-time sharing)	Good (marketing teams)	Good (sales teams)	Good (Google teams)	Excellent (project teams)	Good (workspace sharing)
Contact Management	Excellent (flexible grouping)	Good (marketing integration)	Good (sales-focused)	Good (Google contacts)	Limited (project context)	Good (requires database setup)
Email Integration	Excellent (campaigns + sequences)	Excellent (marketing automation)	Good (sales emails)	Good (Gmail integration)	Basic (notifications)	Basic (requires integrations)
Mobile Experience	Good (responsive web)	Good (native apps)	Excellent (mobile-first)	Good (mobile app)	Excellent (native apps)	Good (mobile app)
AI Features	Good (email generation, scoring)	Excellent (complete AI)	Good (sales insights)	Limited (basic automation)	Limited (basic automation)	Limited (third-party AI)
Integrations	Good (key business tools)	Excellent (complete ecosystem)	Good (sales tools)	Excellent (Google ecosystem)	Good (productivity tools)	Good (through third parties)
Best For	Flexible relationship management	Marketing and sales teams	Sales-focused teams	Google Workspace users	Project-based teams	Technical users wanting customization

folk differentiates through its unique combination of exceptional ease of use with powerful customization, superior customer support and user satisfaction, flexible workflow adaptation for any business process, modern AI-powered features accessible to non-technical users, and collaborative team functionality at competitive pricing. Unlike competitors who focus on specific use cases or require significant technical expertise, folk provides complete relationship management that adapts to any business need while maintaining simplicity.

Strengths & Limitations

Key Advantages	Limitations
Exceptional Ease of Use: Spreadsheet-like interface requires minimal training while offering full CRM functionality, enabling immediate productivity and strong user adoption.	Limited Advanced Enterprise Features: Lacks some enterprise-grade tools like complex analytics, advanced automations, or specialized industry modules.
Outstanding Customer Support: Fast responses (often within minutes), personalized assistance, and consistently high user satisfaction ratings across review platforms.	Pricing Can Add Up for Larger Teams: Costs scale quickly for bigger organizations, with advanced features only available on higher-tier plans.
Flexible Customization: Highly adaptable pipelines, fields, and workflows allow use cases across sales, recruitment, partnerships, and general relationship management.	Integration Limitations: Fewer third-party connections compared to major CRMs (Salesforce, HubSpot), sometimes requiring workarounds.
Modern AI-Powered Features: Intelligent email generation, automated contact enrichment, and predictive relationship insights enhance productivity without complexity.	Mobile App Could Improve: Functional but basic compared to the web version; some users want richer mobile features for on-the-go use.
Collaborative Team Capabilities: Shared contacts, pipelines, and real-time activity tracking boost team coordination and transparency.	Advanced Reporting Gaps: Reporting and analytics are less sophisticated than enterprise CRMs, limiting complex BI use cases.

Final Assessment

Best Fit For:

folk is perfect for startups and small businesses seeking powerful yet simple relationship management, teams wanting to move beyond spreadsheets while maintaining flexibility, and agencies managing diverse client relationships.

Key audiences include:

Startups and small businesses seeking powerful yet simple relationship management
Teams wanting to move beyond spreadsheets while keeping flexibility and control
Agencies and service providers managing diverse client relationships
Sales teams wanting easy pipeline management
Recruitment professionals tracking candidates and clients
Partnership development teams building business relationships
Professionals needing collaborative contact management without complex setup

The platform works well for any organization prioritizing ease of use and team collaboration over advanced business features, plus teams valuing exceptional customer support and transparent pricing.

Summary Verdict:

folk has become a leading force in next-generation relationship management by proving that powerful contact management doesn’t require complexity or technical expertise.

Key strengths include:

Easy spreadsheet-like interface combined with modern relationship management features
Outstanding customer support that consistently exceeds user expectations with personalized, rapid assistance
Flexible customization that adapts to any business workflow without requiring technical skills
Collaborative team features that enhance productivity and relationship management
Over 300,000 users globally with consistently high ratings (4.4-4.8 stars across platforms)
$9 million in funding from respected investors like Accel and recognition as Product Hunt’s #1 Product

Bottom Line:

folk shows that the most sophisticated relationship management technology can also be the most accessible. It enables organizations and individuals to achieve professional contact management through smart simplicity while maintaining the power and flexibility that allows focus on building meaningful relationships rather than managing complex software.

Fun Fact

folk was born from co-founder Thibaud Elziere’s frustration when he realized that most CRMs were like “digital filing cabinets designed by sales managers for sales managers, completely ignoring that every professional needs to manage relationships – not just close deals.” As a serial entrepreneur with experience building successful startups at eFounders, Thibaud watched countless teams struggle with CRMs that required them to think like salespeople even when they were managing journalists, candidates, investors, or partners.

The big breakthrough came when the eFounders team built their internal tool “ContactX” and realized they could manage their entire startup ecosystem – from entrepreneurs to investors to media contacts – using the same flexible, simple platform that “worked like the spreadsheets everyone already understood, but with the smart features everyone actually needed.” The “x” in their new “xRM” concept was specifically chosen to represent “anyone and anything” – proving that relationship management should adapt to your needs rather than forcing your relationships into rigid sales categories. Today, with folk serving over 300,000 users who manage everything from recruitment pipelines to partnership networks to media relationships, Thibaud’s vision shows that sometimes the biggest technology breakthrough is making professional tools feel as natural as organizing your personal contacts, proving that the best relationship platforms adapt to help you be brilliant at whatever relationships matter most to your success.