Empromptu has joined the ranks of startups leveraging artificial intelligence to simplify app creation for enterprises. As someone who has bootstrapped businesses from the ground up, it’s fascinating to observe how tools are evolving to solve problems that, a few short years ago, seemed insurmountable. Having raised $2 million in pre-seed funding, this startup offers insight into what it takes to turn a technical headache into a professional solution, especially for business owners who feel out of their depth with tech-heavy projects.
This funding round, led by Precursor Ventures along with investors like Zeal Capital, Alumni Ventures, Founders Edge, and South Loop, highlights an important trend: making sophisticated AI tools accessible to individuals who lack specific technical knowledge. The founders, Shanea Leven and Sean Robinson, bring a mix of entrepreneurship and research to the table. With Leven’s prior experience at CodeSee and Robinson’s background in AI, Empromptu isn’t just offering a product, it’s offering simplicity.
What They’re Building and How It Works
Empromptu essentially allows a business owner or project manager to describe what they want, perhaps a chatbot to handle customer inquiries or a simple system that categorizes incoming queries, and the platform generates the necessary code. This includes interfaces in formats like HTML or JavaScript. From there, users can refine the results using large language model tools provided by the system or integrate AI features into their existing codebase.
Unlike other platforms focused on experimental or “quick-win” AI tools, Empromptu aims for production-grade quality. It positions itself as a solution for industries with high compliance needs, such as finance or healthcare. With built-in controls for security, these apps are designed to meet enterprise-level demands, not just hobbyist expectations.
Lessons for Female Founders in Europe
As a European entrepreneur myself, I often find myself asking, what are the smartest strategies for funding? What can founders learn from ventures like Empromptu? Here’s a breakdown of lessons worth pondering:
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Focus on Pain Points
Startups succeed by solving real problems that people are desperate to eliminate. Empromptu’s founders understood that enterprises want AI without the hassle of hiring specialized talent. If you're building a business, ask yourself not just “What’s the idea?” but “What’s the pain I can remove?” -
Bootstrap Before Fundraising
Empromptu might not be bootstrapped, but their product hints at simplicity and practicality, qualities achievable even without big funding. Female founders in Europe often face additional hurdles when accessing capital. Building a lean prototype can go a long way toward proving market demand and attracting investors later. Trust me, I’ve been there. -
Team Up Wisely
Bringing together complementary skills is essential. Shanea’s history as a CEO paired with Sean’s technical depth shows how a strong partnership can define the trajectory of success. In Europe’s growing AI sector, finding partners with contrasting expertise (business and tech, for instance) could make or break your venture. -
Leverage Niche Markets
Targeting regulated or specialized industries may seem daunting, but it’s also where opportunities lie. The team behind Empromptu zeroed in on businesses struggling with tech-heavy environments. Ask yourself: What untapped niches can your startup address?
Avoid These Common Pitfalls
Over the years, I’ve noticed some repeated mistakes among founders tackling tech-heavy problems:
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Ignoring End Users
Empromptu builds tools for businesses with little technical knowledge. If they miss making that interface intuitive, they’ll alienate their core audience. The same applies to your startup, test your product relentlessly. -
Prioritizing Style Over Substance
Many founders spend weeks finessing pitch decks when clarity about the product’s functionality would suffice. European investors, particularly those focused on early-stage startups, respond better to tangible prototypes than polished slides. -
Chasing Trends Without Differentiation
AI is everywhere, but falling into a "me-too" strategy on buzzworthy tech leads to wasted resources. Empromptu differentiates its tools by focusing on being enterprise-grade. Always ask: What’s 10% unique about your solution?
Building Smarter AI Startups: A Guide
Here’s how founders, especially women balancing numerous hats, can take inspiration from Empromptu:
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Lean Prototyping
If you’re bootstrapped, focus first on building the minimum viable version of your product. Simplicity cuts through complexity. -
Early Partnerships
Collaborate with tech experts or institutions in your region. Academic hubs across Europe, from Eindhoven to Berlin, are excellent places to recruit talent. -
Validation and Scaling
Before investing heavily in development, use your network to validate the idea with potential customers. Empromptu’s AI background was validated through early partnerships, proving their approach had potential. -
Stay on Trend, Not Chasing Hype
AI isn’t going away, but hype cycles are. Build with purpose rather than chasing irrelevant features.
Conclusion
Empromptu’s $2 million funding, while impressive, is a reminder that the real victory lies in delivering tools that solve pressing problems. For founders across Europe, the lessons from this startup are clear: build lean, test often, and target niches that others overlook. Anyone can have an idea, but excelling in execution is where the gap lies.
FAQ
1. What is Empromptu, and what problem does it aim to solve?
Empromptu is a startup that leverages AI to help businesses, even those with no technical expertise, create enterprise-grade AI applications, addressing the challenges of technical complexity in AI development. Learn more about Empromptu’s mission
2. How much funding has Empromptu raised, and who are the investors?
Empromptu secured $2 million in pre-seed funding. The lead investor was Precursor Ventures, with additional contributions from Zeal Capital, Alumni Ventures, Founders Edge, and South Loop. Read more about Empromptu's funding news
3. Who are the founders of Empromptu?
Empromptu was founded by Shanea Leven, former CEO of CodeSee, and Sean Robinson, an AI researcher with a strong technical background. Discover more about Empromptu’s founders
4. How does Empromptu help users build AI applications?
Empromptu’s platform uses an AI chatbot interface where users describe what they need, and the system generates code (e.g., HTML, JavaScript). It includes tools for tweaking or integrating AI features into existing systems. Explore Empromptu's unique AI platform
5. What industries does Empromptu target?
Empromptu targets highly regulated and specialized industries like finance and healthcare, focusing on providing secure, compliant, and enterprise-grade AI solutions. Learn more about Empromptu's target markets
6. How is Empromptu different from competitors like Replit?
Unlike Replit, which focuses on quick prototyping, Empromptu emphasizes production-grade applications with strong security, compliance, and enterprise-level functionality requirements. Compare Empromptu with its competitors
7. Why is Empromptu considered an enterprise-grade AI solution?
Empromptu provides built-in controls for security and governance, aiming to meet the compliance needs of regulated industries while maintaining production-level application quality. Discover the enterprise-grade features of Empromptu
8. What are some lessons founders can learn from Empromptu's journey?
Founders can learn from Empromptu’s focus on solving customer pain points, building a strong team with complementary expertise, and targeting niche markets with high compliance needs. Check out the lessons learned from Empromptu’s growth
9. How does Empromptu align with trends in AI funding?
Empromptu’s success demonstrates growing interest in democratizing AI development and addressing enterprise challenges, reflecting broader trends in AI adoption and funding. Explore trends in AI funding like Empromptu's
10. What are the future plans for Empromptu with the raised funds?
The $2 million will be used to hire more staff, enhance its proprietary technology, and support its mission to simplify AI adoption for businesses. Learn more about Empromptu's plans
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
