What is AI good for? According to Berlin-based startup Synthflow, it's all about automating repetitive tasks for busy small business owners. The company has just announced a $7.4 million seed funding round to support its no-code platform for AI voice assistance, designed specifically for SMEs. Since its founding in spring 2022, Synthflow has raised a total of $9.1 million, reflecting strong investor interest in the rapid applications of generative AI.
The startup claims to be nearing 1,000 customers and has experienced “double-digit” monthly growth since launching its browser-based no-code tool in December 2023. This indicates a significant demand among small and medium-sized enterprises for easy-to-use generative AI tools that can deliver quick productivity improvements.
According to Synthflow’s CEO and co-founder, Hakob Astabatsyan, the new funding will be utilized for research and development. He aims to expand the product's utility to capture a wider array of SMEs. “We have many ideas based on what our customers need,” he shares.
Astabatsyan, a serial entrepreneur with a background at Rocket Internet, is joined by his brother Albert and CTO Sassun Mirzakhan-Saky, who brings valuable software engineering experience to the team. Initially, Synthflow’s product focused on English-language call handling, but the company has since added beta versions in German and French, hinting at plans to enhance its presence in those European markets.
An End-to-End Experience
AI voice agents have been successfully adopted in call centers, leveraging APIs from large language models (LLMs) to handle calls with human-like accuracy—operating tirelessly around the clock, albeit with occasional comprehension issues. Synthflow aims to take this concept further by specifically focusing on service-oriented SMEs, including those on the smaller end of the spectrum. The goal is to provide these businesses with an “end-to-end” experience, as Astabatsyan emphasizes, which will deliver immediate returns on tasks like appointment scheduling.
“The AI can operate more cost-effectively and reliably, freeing up humans to tackle higher-priority tasks,” he explains succinctly. For instance, consider a handyman or mechanic who often misses calls while working on a job, or a dentist whose receptionist may not always be available. A tool that handles basic customer inquiries could transform operations for these small businesses.
Synthflow’s core mission is to make AI accessible to non-technical users, which is why they’ve created a no-code interface that allows customers to design tailored voice agents. “Our aim was to keep it simple,” Astabatsyan states, highlighting the drag-and-drop capability for configuring voice AIs to perform tasks such as appointment scheduling, answering FAQs, or gathering essential customer information.
For example, voice AIs can handle basic questions and collect static information, which Astabatsyan notes is where AI excels. Customers can customize their AI assistants to disclose that they are virtual entities, using a friendly and informative introduction: “Hello, my name is [insert name]. All our lines are currently busy. I’m the virtual assistant here at [business name]. How can I help you?”
Another important function of these voice AIs is determining when to escalate calls to human agents. By using AI to manage straightforward inquiries, businesses can free up human resources to address more complex issues.
Astabatsyan clarifies that the intention is not to displace jobs but to enhance the productivity and efficiency of SMEs with limited resources. In addition to deploying voice agents, Synthflow’s system automates post-call data entry, such as integrating with calendar tools. Building connections with third-party applications is also a priority for the team.
“This is where AI truly shines,” he asserts. “It can extract information from calls and update CRM systems efficiently. When applied at scale, this technology unlocks significant advantages for businesses—similar to when computers were first adopted.”
For its voice agents, the startup utilizes OpenAI’s GPT LLM while also incorporating proprietary AI models tailored to specific customer scenarios. A "voice orchestration layer" translates spoken language into text for the AI model, which then produces a response converted back into speech.
Currently, Synthflow focuses primarily on optimizing inbound calls—an area identified as ripe for automation among resource-limited businesses. However, Astabatsyan hints at future capabilities, supported by their significant seed funding.
One upcoming feature will enable voice AIs to execute “live actions” or “connections,” such as checking real-time inventory during a call or gathering information for other requests. He envisions a scenario in which various task-oriented AI systems could collaboratively handle customer inquiries.
“The key is understanding your customer base,” he notes. “Depending on who you are developing for, your product will inevitably differ.”
A noteworthy consideration is how voice AIs could amplify business capacities. If these systems can successfully handle a high volume of customer inquiries, businesses might find themselves needing to manage an influx of opportunities.
“This raises intriguing questions for managers and leaders,” Astabatsyan replies. “If our capacity expands and productivity soars, how do we redeploy human resources across the economy? This is a question that deserves exploration.”
Leading Synthflow’s seed funding round is Singular, with participation from existing investor Atlantic Labs and several AI sector pioneers, including the founders of Krisp AI.
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