Interview: ‘The age of AI resembles the age of DaVinci’ — Builder.AI’s Sachin Duggal on the need for polymaths in machine learning
Sep 7, 2023
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Sachin Duggal, founder and CEO of Builder.AI, talks about competition for talent, building culture, and the future of software development. They discuss limitations of low code, give examples of apps built, discuss AI innovation and model usage, building a community of freelancers and onboarding dev shops, reasons for choosing London over Silicon Valley, and finding the balance between growth and sustainability.
Builder AI utilizes AI technology to automate and streamline the software development process, removing human variants and minimizing wastage.
Builder AI focuses on values-driven hiring and maintaining a diverse and skilled workforce to support their fast-growing company.
Builder AI emphasizes the need for cost-consciousness, profitability, and financial sustainability while investing in R&D to enhance their platform and meet the demands of the market.
Deep dives
Builder AI: Using AI to Simplify Software Development
Builder AI is a London-based company that uses AI to help clients build software applications. The company was founded in 2016 and has since raised over $400 million in funding from top investors. The idea for Builder AI originated from the founders' experience of struggling to find someone to build an app for them. They recognized the increasing demand for software applications and the shortage of developers. Builder AI provides a composable software platform that allows users to easily build mobile, web, and soon conversational applications without needing extensive technical knowledge. The platform leverages AI and a knowledge graph to model the relationships between features and automate the development process. Builder AI has worked with a diverse range of clients, from large enterprises to small businesses, helping them build various types of applications. The company aims to reduce the time and cost of software development by providing a platform that incorporates both code and design elements, while still allowing for customization by experts. By addressing the shortage of developers and simplifying the software development process, Builder AI is contributing to the growing field of AI-powered application development.
AI Innovation in the Software Development Process
Builder AI utilizes AI technology in several ways to enhance software development. They focus on removing human variants by automating parts of the process and minimizing wastage. Computer vision systems are used to detect defects in designs and built applications, saving time and effort compared to human quality assurance processes. Builder AI has also developed a knowledge graph that models the relationships between features and uses graph-powered customization to streamline the development process. By leveraging AI and machine learning models, Builder AI aims to reduce the need for human intervention and increase efficiency and productivity in software development. They continuously explore and evaluate AI innovations to enhance their platform and improve the development experience for their customers.
Hiring and Talent Acquisition at Builder AI
As a fast-growing company, Builder AI faces challenges in hiring and maintaining a strong team. They have a strong focus on culture fit and values-driven hiring, seeking candidates who exhibit heart, entrepreneurial spirit, accountability, and transparency. Builder AI recognizes the importance of maintaining a diverse and skilled workforce. While they have made some hiring mistakes, they actively review and learn from feedback on platforms like Glassdoor. They are committed to improving their hiring processes and have seen success in generating more positive reviews and receiving more referrals, indicators of employee satisfaction and engagement. Builder AI acknowledges the need to strike a balance between growth and maintaining a healthy work environment, and they strive to hire and retain talent that aligns with their values and contributes to the company's long-term success.
Managing Growth and Balancing Costs
Builder AI acknowledges the challenges of managing rapid growth and balancing costs. They understand the need to be cost-conscious and efficient while not compromising on quality and innovation. While they have raised significant funding, they emphasize the importance of using the capital wisely and ensuring a focus on generating free cash flow. They are cautious about scaling at any cost and recognize the need for profitability and financial sustainability in the long term. They plan to invest in research and development, both organically and inorganically, to enhance their platform and expand their capabilities. Builder AI is aware of the changing investor landscape and the increasing focus on profitability, and they are aligning their strategies to meet the demands of the market while continuing to pursue sustainable growth.
The Future of AI in Software Development
Builder AI envisions a future where AI plays a pivotal role in simplifying and accelerating software development. They aim to increase the efficiency and productivity of building software applications by reducing the demand-supply gap of developers and automating various aspects of the development process. By leveraging AI models, such as intent models and conversational analysis, Builder AI aims to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of code generation based on spoken language. They see the potential for AI to transform the software development landscape, making it more accessible and user-friendly for non-technical users, while still allowing for customization by experts. Builder AI also recognizes the importance of the talent pool in Europe and believes that the region can compete and contribute significantly to the field of AI development.
This week, Startup Europe — The Sifted Podcast is joined by Sachin Duggal, founder and CEO of Builder.AI, a company that uses AI to help customers build software applications more easily. He sat down with Eleanor in the studio to talk about competition for talent, building culture and the future of software development.
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