The rise of generative AI is revolutionizing various industries, including software development. Autify, a startup based in San Francisco and Tokyo, has created Zenes, an autonomous AI agent designed to streamline software quality assurance (QA) processes. This innovation promises to enhance productivity for software engineers by accelerating code completion and workflow efficiency.
On Monday, Autify announced the successful closure of a $13 million Series B funding round and the launch of Zenes in beta for U.S. customers. This funding round, led by Global Capital Partners and LG Technology Ventures, boosts Autify’s total raised capital to $30 million, including $24 million in equity and $6 million in debt financing. Other investors include World Innovation Lab (WiL), Salesforce Ventures, Archetype Venture, and Uncorrelated Ventures.
Autify: The Vision and Company Origins
Autify was co-founded in 2016 by former software engineers Ryo Chikazawa (CEO) and Sam Yamashita, who experienced the challenges of lengthy software testing firsthand. To tackle this issue, they developed Autify NoCode, a platform that empowers developers and QA teams to enhance software quality engineering through improved efficiency. NoCode is popular in Japan and South Korea, where manual testing is prevalent. In contrast, the newly launched Zenes targets U.S.-based customers.
Zenes transforms the QA landscape by automating test case generation. It analyzes product requirement documents to create automated test codes and maintains these codes over time. The company claims Zenes reduces the time needed to create test cases by 55%, offering a significant advantage over traditional methods.
Chikazawa emphasized that companies heavily invested in automation will benefit from Zenes, as it provides a comprehensive end-to-end solution for the entire QA process, from designing to creating test cases.
Functionality of Zenes
Users can upload product requirement documents in various formats such as .html, .pdf, .docx, and .md. Zenes then generates a set of test cases based on these documents. Users have the option to edit these test cases to ensure accuracy before Zenes generates the final automated test codes. This process not only saves time but also enhances the precision of QA efforts.
Chikazawa envisions AI as a tool to augment human capabilities, fostering creativity rather than replacing human effort. With the new funding, Autify plans to implement additional AI features to further support software QA. Additionally, the company has partnered with LG CNS, an IT service unit of LG Corp, to expand its presence in the Korean market, alongside its core markets in the U.S. and Japan.
Although Autify has not disclosed its customer count, it has significantly expanded its services from two countries in 2021 to 16 countries today. Its clientele includes prominent B2C and B2B companies such as DeNA, NEC, NTT Smart Communication, Yahoo, and ZoZo. The startup’s workforce has also grown, tripling from 30 employees in 2021 to 100 currently.
Autify’s launch of Zenes marks a significant advancement in software quality assurance. By leveraging generative AI, Zenes enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of QA processes, providing software engineers with a powerful tool to improve productivity and quality. With its ongoing expansion and new funding, Autify is well-positioned to continue innovating in the field of software development.
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