To enhance the safety and reliability of artificial intelligence (AI) systems in high-stakes domains, Y Combinator-backed startup atla has successfully raised $5 million in a Seed Round led by European early-stage investor Creandum.
The funding round, which included participation from existing investors Y Combinator and Rebel Fund, signals a strong endorsement for atla’s mission to pioneer AI safety measures, particularly in sectors such as legal, financial, and medical applications.
Founded in January 2023, atla has quickly gained momentum, securing a spot in Y Combinator’s latest accelerator batch. The London and San Francisco-based startup is on a mission to establish secure AI systems tailored for high-stakes applications, mitigating the risks associated with errors and unexpected outcomes commonly found in large language models.
The $5 million injection will play a pivotal role in scaling atla’s product development and expanding its team. The startup, co-founded by Maurice Burger, an AI startup veteran with a unique trajectory from Harvard to Computer Science, and Roman Engeler, who brings a wealth of experience from ETH Zurich and Stanford, is actively recruiting technical talent to fortify its London-based team.
atla’s core mission revolves around developing innovative guardrails to enhance truthfulness, diminish harmfulness, and bolster reliability for generative AI models. The startup’s initial technology manifestation is an AI assistant developed in collaboration with legal teams at Volkswagen and N26. This AI assistant utilizes atla’s research capabilities to provide legal teams with synthesized answers sourced directly from highly trusted legal sources, revolutionizing the way legal inquiries are addressed.
Maurice Burger, expressing the company’s commitment to advancing the reliability of large language models, especially in high-stakes scenarios, stated, “We are excited by the enormous potential of generative AI and by the challenge of pushing the limits of reliability of large language models.” The vision is to create AI systems that function consistently and reliably in critical situations, ensuring safety and dependability.
Creandum, a prominent investor known for backing successful tech companies across Europe, has expressed confidence in atla’s mission. Hanel Baveja, Principal at Creandum, highlighted Maurice and Roman’s exceptional AI expertise and determination. Creandum’s investment resonates with atla’s commitment to pioneer reliable, safe, and trustworthy AI applications, particularly in sectors where precision is paramount.
“We’re excited to join the atla team in their journey to build reliable, safe, and trusted AI applications for the sectors where this matters most,” commented Baveja.
The announcement comes at a crucial time when the development of AI is considered one of the most significant human achievements, and concerns about the reliability of AI systems, especially in critical applications, are gaining prominence. With the backing of influential investors and a clear vision for safer AI systems, atla is poised to make significant contributions to the responsible evolution of artificial intelligence. As the startup continues its growth trajectory, the tech industry eagerly awaits the impact of atla’s innovative solutions on the future landscape of AI safety.