Betaworks Unveils 10 Pioneering Startups from Latest Camp Focused on AI Interfaces
Betaworks, the renowned early-stage venture fund, has announced the latest cohort of ten innovative companies emerging from its esteemed Camp program. Established in 2016, this 13-week biannual residency has been instrumental in launching successful ventures like Hugging Face and Graze Social.
The current Camp’s theme, Interfaces, emphasizes the development of products that redefine user interactions with artificial intelligence. This focus reflects Betaworks’ commitment to advancing AI applications that enhance user experiences.
Applications for this Camp opened in June, with the program commencing in August and culminating in a Demo Day on November 4. The selected startups are:
1. Nora: Founded by Sid Banothu, Nora is a browser extension designed to monitor and analyze users’ shopping behaviors, offering insights to optimize online purchasing habits.
2. Primitive: Developed by Kasey Klimes, Primitive is a web application that transforms voice-recorded ideas into organized task lists and to-dos. It seamlessly integrates with productivity tools like Notion and various calendar applications, streamlining workflow management.
3. Patina: Co-founded by Sean Raspet and Laura Sisson, Patina is pioneering olfactory technology to create scent photographs. By leveraging protein folding, scent receptors, and graph neural networks, the company aims to capture and reproduce specific scents, adding a new dimension to sensory experiences.
4. My Place, by Orange: Helen Huang’s creation, My Place, offers users immersive gaming experiences that realistically simulate everyday human life, providing a platform for users to engage in lifelike scenarios and interactions.
5. Putty: Currently operating in stealth mode, Putty is led by Kevin Chang. Betaworks selected this venture due to Chang’s deep engagement with concepts such as memory systems, ambient interfaces, and technologies tailored to the sporadic rhythms of daily life.
6. Telepath: Founded by Stephen Hood, Josh Whiting, and Rupert Manfredi, Telepath is an AI-driven computer system that operates without traditional applications, offering a streamlined and intuitive user experience.
7. Feather: ShaoBo Zhang and Marco Yu have developed Feather, a digital assistant designed to automate tedious tasks, such as apartment hunting, by creating efficient workflows that save users time and effort.
8. Nubrain: Priyanka Jain and Ingo Marquardt’s Nubrain is harnessing EEG data to translate human thoughts into speech, text, and images, aiming to revolutionize communication methods for individuals with speech or motor impairments.
9. Presq: Founded by Adam Saleh, Steve Burstyn, and Mikey Robins, Presq enables influencers to upload data and generate prompt options for creating manufacturable footwear. The platform plans to expand into other product areas, including eyewear and home goods, offering a new avenue for personalized product design.
10. Intension: Conor Sanchez O’Shea and Gabriel Duemichen’s Intension is a desktop application designed to enhance focus by minimizing on-screen distractions. It tracks users’ attention and maps workflow habits, promoting productivity and efficient work practices.
Betaworks’ Camp program continues to be a catalyst for groundbreaking startups, providing them with the resources and mentorship needed to develop products that redefine user interactions with technology. This latest cohort exemplifies the program’s commitment to fostering innovation in AI interfaces, promising to deliver transformative solutions across various industries.
