Caddi: Revolutionizing Business Automation with Generative AI

A New Era in Business Automation: The Emergence of Caddi

In a world where businesses are constantly seeking ways to streamline operations, a Seattle-based startup, Caddi, is making waves by emerging from stealth mode with a groundbreaking approach to automation. Born out of the renowned AI2 Incubator, Caddi has secured a $5 million seed round to propel its mission of transforming basic business operations using generative AI. The company’s innovative platform aims to empower businesses by automating mundane tasks, allowing professionals to focus on their core expertise. With its sights set on the legal and financial sectors, Caddi is poised to make a significant impact in industries where efficiency and accuracy are paramount.

The Vision Behind Caddi: Simplifying Automation

The concept behind Caddi is both intuitive and powerful. Users can create screen recordings with audio that serve as training videos for the AI. These recordings demonstrate tasks such as customer onboarding, email management, document organization, data entry, and invoicing. The AI then converts these recordings into automated workflows, essentially creating a virtual employee that can handle these tasks with precision. This approach, termed “automation by demonstration,” eliminates the need for complex coding or technical expertise, making it accessible to a broader audience. The name “Caddi” itself is inspired by the role of a golf caddie, who manages the behind-the-scenes tasks, allowing the player to focus on the game. Similarly, Caddi aims to handle the administrative and back-office work, enabling professionals to concentrate on their core responsibilities.

Meet the Founders: Serial Entrepreneurs with a Vision

At the helm of Caddi are co-founders Alejandro Castellano and Aditya Sastry, both seasoned entrepreneurs with a track record of success. Castellano, who serves as the CEO, brings a diverse background that includes managing a portfolio of companies and investments at a financial firm, followed by a master’s degree in engineering from Cornell University. His journey into the tech world led him to the AI2 Incubator, where he was determined to build impactful software. Sastry, the Chief Technology Officer, is a data science specialist who has led engineering teams at multiple startups, including Denver-based AgentSync, an insurance tech giant. Together, they form a dynamic duo with a deep understanding of both the technical and business aspects of building a successful startup.

The Power of AI2 Incubator: A Legacy of Innovation

Caddi’s roots in the AI2 Incubator are a testament to the incubator’s legacy of fostering innovative companies. Once part of the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence, the incubator has a reputation for recognizing the potential of AI before it became mainstream. This legacy is evident in the incubator’s ability to build companies that are at the forefront of technological advancements. Castellano’s experience as an entrepreneur-in-residence at AI2 Incubator was instrumental in shaping Caddi’s vision and approach. With the incubator’s support, Caddi has been able to tap into a wealth of resources and expertise, setting a strong foundation for its growth.

A Strategic Seed Round: Fueling Growth and Innovation

Caddi’s seed round, led by Ubiquity Ventures and supported by Seattle-based Founders’ Co-op and AI2 Incubator, underscores the confidence investors have in the company’s potential. Sunil Nagaraj, a general partner at Ubiquity Ventures, joins Caddi’s board, bringing a proven track record of successful investments, including Auth0, which was acquired by Okta for $6.5 billion. This influx of capital will be instrumental in scaling Caddi’s operations, expanding its team, and further refining its technology. With plans to grow from a small team to 15 employees over the next year, Caddi is positioning itself to make a significant impact in the rapidly evolving generative AI landscape.

Addressing the Market: A Unique Value Proposition

The automation space is becoming increasingly crowded, with players like Zapier, Make, UiPath, Automation Anywhere, and OpenAI’s Operator offering various solutions. However, Caddi’s approach stands out for its simplicity and reliability. While no-code solutions like Zapier and Make require users to understand technical concepts such as triggers, actions, and data mapping, Caddi eliminates this need. Similarly, while competitors like UiPath and Automation Anywhere rely on mimicking user actions, which can be unreliable when interfaces change, Caddi uses AI to analyze screen recordings and generate code that interacts directly with application APIs. This approach not only reduces the risk of errors and compliance issues but also makes the automation process more robust and scalable. As professionals in regulated industries such as law and finance increasingly turn to AI for efficiency and cost savings, Caddi is well-positioned to address their concerns about accuracy and reliability.

The Road Ahead: A Vision for the Future

With pilot testing complete, Caddi is now onboarding new customers and plans to launch its platform as a subscription service later this year. This open launch will enable businesses to adopt Caddi’s automation tools without requiring direct support from the company, further democratizing access to advanced AI-driven automation. As the generative AI space continues to expand, Caddi’s focus on reliability, cost-effectiveness, and compliance positions it as a leader in the market. With a strong team, a clear vision, and a unique approach to automation, Caddi is ready to transform the way businesses operate, one task at a time.