Wordware, the first full-stack operating system for AI development, has announced a $30 million seed round led by Spark Capital, with participation from Felicis, Y Combinator, Day One Ventures, and angel investors including Paul Graham, Vlad Magdalin (Webflow), Mathilde Collin (Front), Paul Daugherty (Accenture), and others. This funding—one of the largest seed rounds in Y Combinator’s history—will accelerate Wordware’s mission to democratize AI development and redefine how AI solutions are built.
Wordware empowers anyone to create, iterate, and deploy AI agents using plain English. By introducing natural language as the new programming language for AI, Wordware enables domain experts and engineers to collaborate seamlessly in building sophisticated AI solutions.
“Excel gave us power over numbers. Notion gave us power over information. Wordware gives us power over AI. We’re creating the new standard for encoding human expertise into AI systems,” says Filip Kozera, Co-founder and CEO, describing the vision.
From Cambridge to Y Combinator
The company was founded by Filip Kozera (CEO) and Robert Chandler (CTO), who met nearly a decade ago while studying deep learning at the University of Cambridge. Filip went on to launch a company focused on augmenting human memory with Transformers, while Robert led machine learning operations for self-driving cars at Five AI, later acquired by Bosch. When large language models (LLMs) began demonstrating reasoning capabilities, Filip and Robert dedicated a year to reimagining the development environment for building AI agents, tackling the critical question: “If prompting is the new programming, what should the tools look like?”
As part of Y Combinator’s latest batch, Wordware quickly gained traction, securing multiple term sheets even before Demo Day. Their achievements culminated in raising one of the largest seed rounds in Y Combinator history—15 times the typical YC seed size of $1.5–$2 million—and closing the round in just seven days. This record-setting raise reflects strong investor confidence and enthusiasm for Wordware’s potential to revolutionize AI development.
“Our Product Hunt launch wasn’t just a launch—it was a proof of concept for what’s possible when thoughtful engineering meets a deep understanding of human behavior. To showcase Wordware’s potential, we launched a simple AI application four days earlier, designed with shareability in mind and built to tap into human psychology”, explains Kamil Ruczynski, a founding member leading marketing and growth. “The results exceeded expectations – over 7.5 million people engaged, fueling a wave of virality that peaked during the launch. In just weeks, we grew revenue 20x, reached 350,000 users, and proved the power of accessible AI tools—from indie hackers to post-IPO enterprises. Today, Wordware powers AI backends for startups and advanced LLM workflows for enterprises like Instacart and Runway, transforming how AI is built.”
The founding team is further strengthened by top-tier engineers, including Olav Ljosland, a 10x engineer from Norway and co-founder of a venture-backed startup that raised $3.5 million, Tal Globus, a seasoned technical leader and former CTO, and Kristian Elset Bø, a founder-turned-engineer who previously served as CTO of his own venture. Together, this team brings a wealth of experience and expertise to Wordware’s mission to make AI development accessible to all.
Unlocking Human Potential
Today’s workplace is plagued by inefficiencies that stifle human potential. 9 out of 10 employees are stuck in mundane, repetitive tasks, with 81% spending less than three hours daily on creative work and 76% dedicating less than three hours weekly to strategic thinking. This disengagement costs the global economy $8.9 trillion annually and represents a significant misallocation of talent at a time when creativity and strategic insight are critical to driving innovation.
“Today’s workplace isn’t just inefficient – it’s actively suppressing human potential”, says Filip Kozera, co-founder and CEO of Wordware. “When nine out of ten employees are trapped in routine tasks, we’re not just losing productivity – we’re losing the creative and strategic thinking that will define success in the AI era.”
While AI holds the promise of revolutionizing work, the traditional path to building AI solutions has been daunting, requiring scarce engineering talent, complex technical expertise, and long development cycles. Wordware is changing the game by introducing English as the new programming language, empowering knowledge workers to create sophisticated AI solutions without coding skills. This innovation bridges the gap between vision and execution, transforming knowledge workers into analytical builders.
With its unified development environment, Wordware fosters seamless collaboration between domain experts and engineers, reducing the time to production from months to just weeks—or even days. By democratizing AI development, Wordware unlocks human creativity and strategic potential, setting a new standard for workplace efficiency and innovation.
“Simple is hard to do right. And we were just so impressed by how the Wordware team made AI application development as simple to understand as a Notion document,” says Nabeel Hyatt, General Partner at Spark Capital. “Then we were blown away when we talked to their customers about the powerful, complicated workflows often built by users outside the typical AI engineer paradigm.”
Wordware is not just a tool—it’s a platform poised to redefine the workplace by making advanced AI solutions accessible to all.
Fundraising tips from the CEO
Raising $30 million in just seven days requires more than luck. Filip Kozera, Co-founder and CEO of Wordware, shares how his team approached fundraising with precision, strategy, and storytelling.
1. Master Your Narrative with Raw Numbers
“Fundraising is ultimately about storytelling—you’re selling a vision of the future”, explains Kozera. For Wordware’s raise, the team avoided the traditional slide decks and glossy presentations. Instead, they distilled their pitch into a single page of raw metrics, forcing their narrative to make the numbers compelling. “When you strip everything down to core metrics, you create a story that makes those numbers speak to the future you’re building.” This minimalist approach kept the focus on their vision and results, creating a pitch that stood out.
2. Preparation Creates ‘Effortless’ Meetings
What might seem effortless is the result of rigorous preparation. Wordware meticulously researched each potential investor’s thesis, portfolio companies, and personal interests. They tailored their pitches accordingly and hosted meetings in their office to create a strong impression. “The goal isn’t just to be prepared—it’s to be the most prepared person in the room,” says Kozera. This deep understanding of each investor ensured that meetings felt personal and purposeful, building trust and credibility.
3. Strategic Raise Sizing and Negotiation
Wordware approached their raise with a clear strategy: communicate a funding target they were 80% confident they could secure, ensuring they would likely be oversubscribed rather than falling short. They also emphasized dilution targets rather than valuation, giving them flexibility in negotiations. Kozera advises founders to be cautious with pro-rata rights, which can impact future rounds and cap table management. “VCs should have to negotiate for these rights, and in some cases, even offer a higher valuation in exchange,” he adds.
4. Build Momentum Through Sequencing
Strategic sequencing of investor meetings was another critical factor. Sebastian Karas, founding member and head of operations, explains: “Start with friendly investors who can provide honest feedback, then move to those who might be interested but aren’t your top choice. Refine your pitch before approaching your target firms.” Early interest created a sense of momentum, which added pressure to subsequent conversations and helped close the round quickly.
Pioneering the Next Era of AI Development
Wordware is more than just a tool, it’s a transformative platform redefining how businesses and individuals engage with AI. By introducing natural language as the programming standard, Wordware empowers knowledge workers and domain experts to build sophisticated AI solutions, bridging the gap between vision and execution. Customers are already using Wordware to build AI agents that streamline operations and address customer needs, and in early 2025, the platform will expand to enable prosumers to harness its powerful engine to automate personal workflows.
With a record-breaking $30 million seed round secured in just seven days, Wordware’s rapid ascent underscores its visionary leadership and groundbreaking technology. By shortening development cycles, democratizing access to AI, and unlocking human creativity, Wordware is setting a new benchmark for innovation. As the world transitions to an AI-driven future, Wordware is equipping organizations and individuals alike to shape that future, laying the foundation for unprecedented productivity, efficiency, and innovation.
