When developers face a specific challenge that AI can address, simply pointing a large language model (LLM) at the data is rarely sufficient. Critical factors such as cost, speed, and accuracy must be considered, and balancing these elements can be complex, especially with the continuous emergence of new models.
Enter Unify, a British startup founded by an Imperial College alum, which offers a router tool that empowers developers to input parameters and identify the most suitable LLM for their specific needs. On Wednesday, the company proudly announced an $8 million funding round.
“The primary goal of Unify is to determine which models from various providers are optimal for your task, utilizing objective benchmarks and dashboards for easy comparisons,” explained Daniel Lenton, the company’s founder and CEO. “The router serves as a natural extension of this process, especially as organizations scale up their deployments, where speed and cost become increasingly vital. Ultimately, we aim to give users enhanced control over the quality, cost, and speed of their LLM applications,” Lenton added.
Unify leverages AI to power its core router application. “Our router functions as a learned neural network, adapting to identify the most effective models for various tasks,” he noted. The company conducts extensive benchmarking on each new model across multiple tasks, using GPT Pro as a standard for evaluation. This process enables the system to learn how well each model performs based on their training sets.
“So, any new model provider is generally supported by the router within just a day or two,” he stated.
Lenton emphasized that the router, alongside the startup's unique training approach, acts as a protective measure against larger competitors. Additionally, Unify maintains a neutral stance, which sets it apart from hyperscalers.
He explained that many customers typically experiment with different models without a method to track their effectiveness. “There are users facing urgent challenges eager to try established solutions, which has helped us gain entry into the market,” he said.
Although rivals like Martian Router, OpenRouter, and Portkey exist, Lenton asserts that Unify is the only company optimizing for quality, cost, and speed simultaneously.
With a current team of seven, the company is intentionally maintaining a lean structure while developing a fully monetized product. Lenton plans to expand the team by three employees this year.
To date, Unify has attracted around 3,000 signups, with several hundred active users. The company anticipates revenue through custom benchmarks charged to businesses, offering each company a $50 credit to begin using the tool.
The $8 million investment comes from a diverse group of investors, including SignalFire, M12, J12, Essence VC, A. Capital, Lunar VC, Y Combinator, and notable industry angels.
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