Zapier and IFTTT are the biggest platforms today for creating automation rules for texts or getting two apps to “talk” through APIs. However, these are the “hammers to crack nuts” for doing the simple tasks required in businesses. Furthermore, if you include images or videos, or if the referenced text is unstructured, tools that require that structure will not work well anyway.
This was the thinking behind Berlin-based startup Levity. It created a way for businesses to create AI-powered, “no-code” rules to automate tasks in a way that non-technical people can use.
It has now raised $8.3 million in seed funding from Balderton Capital (out of London) and Chalfen Ventures, as well as several angels.
Levity, founded by Jero Keil and Tilo Hellman, allows businesses to use simple templates to automate workflows, the firm confirmed, underscoring AI that takes care of the heavy lifting. It uses NLP and computer vision in a horizontal platform to handle unstructured data types – such as images, text and documents. Levity’s clients range from fashion and real estate to shipping, marketing, social media, scientific research and more.
Common use cases include automatic tagging and routing of incoming emails or email attachments. Checking customer support tickets; Sort incoming documents into their respective folders; or tagging visual inventory data such as product photos.
A little like Zapier, the platform integrates with Gmail, Outlook, Google Drive, Dropbox, Airtable and more. The startup says the system is SOC2 Type I certified and GDPR compliant.
“Businesses and their customers deserve the same opportunities to reap the benefits of AI and automation as their larger competitors,” Levity co-founder and CEO Gero Keil said in a statement.
The platform was launched this past August; Subscription prices start at $200 per month.
James Wise, partner at Balderton Capital, added: “The gap between companies that can afford to use AI and automation and small businesses that can’t afford to do so is widening. Levity is on a mission to close this divide.
