Overview

Timely is an AI-powered time tracking platform that automatically captures work activity to draft precise timesheets. It eliminates manual timers by running in the background, recording work across all apps and websites to ensure accurate billing and project reporting. Designed for agencies, consultancies, and SaaS teams, it helps businesses optimize margins and transparency while respecting employee privacy and autonomy.

Founder story

Founded in 2013 by Mathias Mikkelsen, Timely (Memory.ai) was born from the struggle to manage time effectively. Based in Oslo, Norway, the team set out to solve the 'black hole' of time waste. By leveraging AI to automate the tedious aspects of timesheet management, they created a tool that balances business profitability with a trust-led, employee-friendly workplace culture.

What it does

• • Uses Memory Tracker to record app, website, and file usage automatically in the background
• • Generates AI-powered timesheets that auto-suggest entries based on tracked work patterns
• • Provides granular project management dashboards for budgets, billable rates, and team performance
• • Offers enterprise-grade security with ISO 27001 compliance and role-based access control
• • Simplifies billing and reporting by providing real-time data on project costs and utilization.

Who it's for

• Digital Agencies
• Consultancy Firms
• SaaS Development Teams
• Professional Services Firms

Why it works

• Automatic capture eliminates the friction and inaccuracy of manual start/stop timers
• AI timesheet generation significantly reduces administrative overhead for team members
• Privacy-first design ensures captured data is only visible to the user until approved
• Deep integration with project financials allows for better scoping and profitability tracking
• Scalable architecture supports thousands of concurrent users across global organizations.

Growth strategies

• Content- led marketing focusing on agency profitability and ROI
• Integration- heavy strategy with major professional tools like Jira
• Product- led growth through free trials for teams
• Establishing trust as a key differentiator against invasive tracking software

Alternatives

• Toggl
• Harvest
• Clockify
• RescueTime

Comparison overview

• Timely differentiates itself from manual timers like Toggl or Harvest through its automated background tracking (Memory Tracker), which removes the need for user input
• [Timely focuses on privacy-first AI automation to generate timesheets , whereas traditional trackers rely on manual 'start/stop' buttons and are prone to human error/]