Former Google and Coursera Employees Launch Lutra AI to Simplify AI Workflow Development

Over the past decade, Jiquan Ngiam's experiences at Coursera and Google highlighted numerous opportunities for automating engineering tasks to assist non-developers. Unfortunately, the necessary resources were often lacking.

Earlier this year, Ngiam partnered with five friends, including former Google colleague Vijay Vasudevan, to explore the capabilities of artificial intelligence in the cloud—particularly its potential for reasoning, planning, and coding.

“I was intrigued by how these models could generate code and provide reasoning, ultimately improving usability for non-engineers,” Ngiam shared with us. “The key question was whether these models could effectively interconnect the software we use daily to deliver reliable and secure solutions.”

Their collaboration led to the creation of Lutra AI, a startup launched in April that develops AI workflows from natural language, eliminating the need for technical expertise. By integrating with existing applications like Google Workspaces and Slack, Lutra AI streamlines tasks such as email management and internet research.

Lutra AI is the latest entrant in the AI workflow arena, joining established companies like Respell, Unity, and Parabola, as well as tech giants like Nvidia. However, Ngiam believes Lutra stands out in several key ways: First, Lutra adopts a code-first approach, enhancing security and reliability in executing AI workflows and safeguarding data. Second, while many competitors apply large language models (LLMs) across various functions, Lutra focuses on optimizing LLMs for specific tasks to achieve superior outcomes.

Recently emerging from stealth mode, Lutra closed a successful $3.8 million seed funding round featuring investments from Coatue Ventures, Hustle Fund, Maven Ventures, WVV Capital, and several prominent angel investors, including Andrej Karpathy, Jeff Dean, and Scott Belsky. Currently in private beta with select clients, Ngiam emphasizes that it's too early to discuss traction. However, with fresh funding, the team aims to expand the customer base and enhance product development and market fit.

“We all have a digital presence and engage with far more software today than we did a decade ago,” Ngiam reflected. “Looking ahead, these technologies are becoming increasingly vital for businesses. This is the ideal time to introduce tools that seamlessly integrate across all software applications, empowering companies to operate more effectively.”