Lucas Ochoa and Gautam Bose, two former Google Creative Lab employees, are aiming to revolutionize the enterprise automation sector with their Y Combinator-backed startup, Automat. Originally named Lasso, the AI system turns videos or descriptions of tasks into automated workflows.
The duo had initially worked on integrating Google's LaMDA language model across various apps and services. While working on this project, they realized that existing enterprise automation tools were either too expensive or overly complicated for what is now referred to as "citizen developers."
Automat can deconstruct a video recording of a task into step-by-step instructions. Leveraging AI algorithms, the platform interprets the instructions to perform actions on behalf of the user. It supports both cloud-based unattended automation and attended automation, where it acts like a "copilot" for users.
According to its creators, Automat can handle any PC-based workflow, from processing insurance claims to inventory management, even integrating with third-party apps like HubSpot and Salesforce. What sets it apart is its speed and cost-effectiveness; it's up to ten times faster and one-tenth the price of traditional workflow automation tools.
Automat has successfully completed its pilot program and secured its first paying customers. To accelerate growth, the startup recently raised $3.75 million in a funding round led by Initialized Capital and Khosla Ventures. The funds will be used to launch Automat's new Sandbox feature and expand the workforce.
While Automat promises a lot, it’s not an instant solution. Users need to submit a video or description for the team to create the automation, which can take a few days. It also faces competition from established RPA vendors like MuleSoft, Microsoft's Power Automate, and ServiceNow.
The market for Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is expected to grow to $16 billion by 2025, according to Forrester Research. As enterprises focus more on efficiency and cost-saving, Automat is well-positioned to capitalize on this trend.
"With this funding, we’re building a technical team that balances customer needs with ambitious R&D," said Ochoa and Bose. Automat seems set to make a significant impact on the automation landscape, offering companies a way to focus on what truly matters by automating the mundane.
