In an era where artificial intelligence (AI) is swiftly reshaping the business landscape, a new startup called Nexos.ai is making waves. Founded by Tomas Okmanas and Eimantas Sabaliauskas — the visionaries behind Lithuania’s famed tech brand, Nord Security — Nexos.ai is committed to facilitating the operationalization of AI projects within enterprises. With a primary focus on enhancing visibility, security, and adaptability in managing large language models (LLMs), the founders aim to bridge the gap between innovative pilot programs and robust production environments.
Nexos.ai recently broke its silence, unveiling an impressive funding round of $8 million, led by notable investors including Index Ventures. This investment marks a pivotal moment not only for the startup but also for the Lithuanian tech ecosystem, as it symbolizes an expansion of venture capital interest in the region.
Tomas Okmanas and Eimantas Sabaliauskas are no strangers to the tech world. Their previous venture, Nord Security, achieved considerable acclaim, particularly with its flagship VPN service, NordVPN. After ten years of rigorous development and a substantial $100 million funding boost in 2022, the company solidified its position in the industry, ultimately reaching a valuation of $3 billion.
However, the founders didn’t rest on their laurels. The experiences gained from Nord’s evolution inspired them to delve into the AI sector. Okmanas recounted challenges encountered in integrating AI into existing tools during his tenure at Hostinger, another company under the Tesonet umbrella. These early experiences provided vital insights into the complexities of deploying AI solutions and the necessity for effective management in production environments.
A notable gap exists between testing AI in controlled environments and successfully implementing it within enterprises. Often, teams must juggle a multitude of tools and strategies, leading to confusion and delayed deployment. Nexos.ai seeks to address this challenge head-on.
As Okmanas expressed, many organizations transition from lab-based AI experiments to production with little clarity on critical issues such as high availability, security concerns, and cost management. The startup aims to simplify this process by offering a streamlined path from testing to deployment, equipping enterprises with the tools needed for success.
Through a simple API, Nexos.ai allows companies access to over 200 AI models, which include both established providers like OpenAI and Anthropic, as well as smaller players. This breadth ensures that enterprises can adapt quickly should one of their AI service providers face downtime or unexpected cost hikes.
In an environment where AI costs can spiral out of control, Nexos.ai introduces features designed to enhance cost efficiency. The incorporation of “intelligent caching” helps the system to manage repeated inquiries by utilizing its own database, thereby minimizing reliance on external LLMs. This innovative approach not only optimizes performance but also decreases overall costs for enterprises utilizing the service.
Moreover, the issue of data security continues to loom large, particularly for sectors that handle sensitive information, such as finance and healthcare. Nexos.ai takes a proactive stance to data management, implementing measures to prevent the transmission of private data to external LLM providers. This builds trust among enterprise clients, who can feel confident that their proprietary information remains secure.
Despite the robust security protocols Nexos.ai has in place, the startup’s history and that of its founders does raise questions about data handling practices. With previous breaches affecting both Hostinger and NordVPN, how will Nexos.ai navigate its own security landscape? Okmanas has indicated plans for self-hosting options in the future, which could further alleviate client concerns about data privacy.
Additionally, Nexos.ai is designed to identify and redirect sensitive data effectively. Should any personally identifiable information (PII) be at risk, the platform ensures this data is safely routed back to the client’s own systems. However, standard queries related to customer engagement can be effectively managed within Nexos.ai’s infrastructure, facilitating a delicate balance between operational efficiency and data security.
Speeding through the incorporation process, Nexos.ai was able to launch rapidly due to the established infrastructure of Tesonet, which boasts a workforce of around 4,000 employees across various domains. This organizational muscle has allowed the founders to quickly mobilize a dedicated team to focus on their new venture.
As AI matures beyond initial hype cycles, enterprises are beginning to realize the need for scalable solutions. Investor confidence, as represented by Index Ventures and others, indicates a robust belief in Nexos.ai’s potential to become a formidable player in the AI space. With its continuous evolution and responsiveness to market needs, Nexos.ai stands poised to lead enterprises toward a more integrated and secure use of AI technologies.