Getting Started with Katmai
New to Katmai? Start here.
Katmai is not another meeting tool.
It’s a shared office your team returns to throughout the day.
This page explains how Katmai is meant to be used, what makes it different, and how teams get value quickly, before diving into setup or features.
What Katmai Is
Katmai is a virtual office where your team can:
- See who’s around
- Walk over and talk
- Meet without scheduling
- Stay present without being interrupted
When work needs to happen, you don’t send links.
You go to the office.
The Core Idea
Katmai works best when teams follow one simple rule:
When you need to talk or meet, go to the office.
No calendar back-and-forth.
No “my link or yours.”
No guessing who’s available.
Presence replaces scheduling.
How Teams Actually Use Katmai
In practice, teams use Katmai to:
- Ask quick questions as they come up
- Pull someone in for a fast answer
- Co-work quietly while staying reachable
- Run standups, 1:1s, and reviews
- Host interviews, onboarding, and internal sessions
The more time your team spends in the office, the more spontaneous interactions happen.
Those moments are where speed, clarity, and culture return.
What Katmai Is Not
Katmai is not meant to be:
- A place you only open for scheduled meetings
- Another grid-style video tool
- A replacement for every app you already use
It works best as the place you go first, not the place you visit occasionally.
What Success Looks Like
Teams succeeding with Katmai typically experience:
- Fewer scheduled meetings
- Faster decisions
- Less internal messaging
- More shared context
- Stronger day-to-day connection
If Katmai feels quiet, it usually means it’s being treated like a meeting tool instead of an office.
Choose Your Next Step
Pick the path that matches your role.
I’m setting this up for my team
Learn how to set up the office, invite people correctly, and establish working norms.
→ Getting Started for Admins
I’m joining my team’s office
Learn how to move around, signal availability, and work comfortably day to day.
→ Getting Started for Team Members
We want to evaluate Katmai deliberately (optional)
Learn how to run a meaningful pilot and test behavior change, not just features.
→ Running a Katmai Pilot
Where Technical Docs Fit
Detailed instructions still matter.
They just shouldn’t come first.
When you need step-by-step guidance on specific features, visit the Technical Help Center.
Katmai works when people show up.
Start by treating it like the office it’s meant to be.