The promise of AI application development for the masses is tantalizing, but often bogged down in technical complexities. Enter Empromptu, a startup aiming to democratize AI app building, armed with $2 million in pre-seed funding and a vision to empower non-technical business owners to harness the power of AI.
Founded by Shanea Leven, fresh off the acquisition of her previous company CodeSee, and AI researcher Sean Robinson, Empromptu launched last October with a bold proposition: build AI applications simply by telling the platform’s chatbot what you want. The funding round, led by Zeal Capital, with participation from Alumni Ventures, Founders Edge and South Loop, signals growing investor confidence in this no-code approach.
Empromptu isn’t just another “vibe coding” platform, according to Leven. While tools like Replit and Lovable excel at rapid prototyping, Empromptu focuses on turning those initial experiments into production-ready software.
“Vibe coding is excellent for quick experiments, but Empromptu is what turns those experiments into real software,” Leven asserts. “If vibe coding is the brainstorm, Empromptu is the build.”
The platform’s core offering allows users to describe their desired AI application – be it a classification app or a generative recommendation engine – and Empromptu’s AI engine handles the heavy lifting. For those who prefer a hands-on approach, LLM tools are available for fine-tuning results, and businesses can even integrate AI features into their existing codebases.
The newly acquired funding will be strategically deployed to expand the Empromptu team and further develop its proprietary technology. This includes the introduction of three new features:
- Custom data models for tailored AI solutions.
- “Infinite memory” to allow AI applications to process and learn from vast datasets.
- Improved LLM tools for greater control over the AI.
Empromptu is particularly focused on businesses operating in regulated industries or dealing with “deeply complex” data environments, such as the hospitality sector. Their aim is to provide solutions that can transform operations without requiring founders to become AI experts themselves.
Leven believes that AI app development shouldn’t be the exclusive domain of technical specialists. She envisions a future where AI empowers individuals to learn and build, regardless of their background.
“It’s just like any other skill,” Leven said. “And the beauty of this skill is that AI can help you learn it along the way.”
As AI continues to permeate every facet of business, platforms like Empromptu, which you can check out at Empromptu.ai, could become instrumental in unlocking the technology’s potential for a wider audience, potentially ushering in a new era of AI-powered innovation driven by business acumen rather than pure technical prowess. The success of Empromptu will hinge on whether they can truly deliver on the promise of accessible AI app development, bridging the gap between vision and execution for businesses of all sizes.
