Large language models and natural language processing could transform knowledge work in the coming years. German startup Kern AI aims to be a fundamental part of that change.
The Bonn-based startup, founded in 2020, started out as an AI consultancy and moved into software development in late 2020. Its open-source software, Refinery, is designed to enable data specialists to semi-automatically evaluate, maintain, and scale training data for language models - in other words, to improve the basis for the corporate use of language models.
Refinery, along with other natural language processing and management software, is the foundation of Kern AI's newly launched modular platform. Through the paid platform, companies can generate training data, automate emails, perform web scraping, and build natural language pipelines.
Unlike similar software on the market, Kern AI can be used both as an add-on to existing data platforms, such as Heartex's Label Studio, and throughout the value chain for data-centric NLP applications. For example, a logistics company could automatically extract shipment volume and time information from a customer email and feed it into its transportation management system.
Kern AI wins million dollar investment
Kern AI announces €2.7 million in seed funding. The money comes mainly from Seedcamp and Faber, with participation from xdeck, another.vc and the Hasso Plattner Seed Fund. The funding will be used to further develop the platform, which could be expanded to include audio and documents.
"We believe that NLP is just about to get started, and it will disrupt almost anything touched by technology. And we’re confident that our work will contribute to it," the team writes.
Kern AI has already raised 550,000 euros in a pre-seed round. The startup currently has nine employees.
