Head of Growth
San Francisco, CA – November 14, 2023 – Composabl, a startup developing intelligent autonomous agents—software programs and “robot brains” that perform essential tasks—has secured its pre-seed round. The investment was led by Ridgeline, a Memphis-based VC firm known for its focus on modernizing legacy industries, with participation from Exposition Ventures, a Chicago-based VC firm specializing in the application of frontier technologies throughout the industrial value chain, and additional support from angel investors.
As Learning Language Models (LLMs) become increasingly prevalent, they still can’t run your factory. Composabl's innovative Artificial Intelligence (AI) models are designed to optimize equipment, from CNC machines to robot arms and autonomous drones. Composabl’s co-founder and CEO, Kence Anderson, firmly believes that unlike traditional automation, the key to success lies in creating industrial-strength autonomous agents that can make human-like decisions by perceiving their surroundings—processing information from sensors and cameras, listening to the sounds of machines, and making sense of incomplete data—just like human experts do in situations with uncertainty.
Before building Composabl, Anderson helped build Bonsai, an AI platform that empowers developers to build, teach, and use intelligent systems, which was acquired by Microsoft and backed by leading investors including NEA, Microsoft Ventures, ABB, Samsung NEXT and Siemens. Several of Composabl’s team members, including CTO Xavier Geerinck, are former employees of Microsoft.
Anderson explained how Composabl is taking his previous work to the next level. “In my experience designing and building nearly 200 intelligent industrial agent systems for companies like Pepsi, BP, Shell, and AB InBev, I consistently discovered that high-performance solutions for industrial strength systems that truly thrive in real-world settings require explainable, trustworthy systems,” he said. “This requires a thoughtful combination of algorithms and technologies. Composabl allows engineers and subject matter experts (SMEs) to either build on or incorporate their expertise with traditional automation, machine learning, and AI building blocks.”
“Kence is a classic founder with a founder-market fit: He understands the customers extremely well, understands the market extremely well, and understands the risks,” said Andrew McMahon, General Partner at Ridgeline. “He and his team's product have the potential to significantly drive the adoption of industrial AI and automation across various industries.”
“Composabl is advancing Industry 4.0 from simply collecting and visualizing data to being able to act on that data,” said Karen Kerr, General Partner at Exposition Ventures. “The engineers who understand the process the best can train AI agents without needing to call in data scientists. With Composabl, we can finally have auditable automation. That is what got us excited.”
Anderson's vision for Composabl extends beyond technology; it's about empowering engineers and SMEs globally. Composabl's platform aims to let these experts build autonomous agents using familiar building blocks and technologies they understand. This approach marks a paradigm shift, empowering those who know their industries inside and out to leverage the potential of autonomous agents without relying solely on technology companies with vast data resources.
One compelling part of Composabl's story is its focus on augmenting human skills. “A Pepsi executive once told me the most valuable assets are the skills of operators, not just the machinery,” said Anderson. “Composabl's platform enhances the expertise of these operators and engineers, making their skills even more valuable in the age of intelligent agents.”
Anderson's background in mechanical engineering and extensive interactions with industrial experts have laid the foundation for Composabl's mission. His book, Designing Autonomous AI, serves as a guide to the intelligent agent framework, highlighting the augmentation of human performance and capabilities that were previously unattainable. Composabl stands as the embodiment of this vision, bringing intelligent autonomous agents to life.
For more information about Composabl and its work in intelligent autonomous agents, please contact: info@composabl.io
About Composabl
Composabl is a San-Francisco based company pioneering a no-code platform for industrial and manufacturing sectors. Led by industry thought leader Kence Anderson, the company's platform enables subject matter experts to develop autonomous agents and machine learning models using their domain expertise. Anderson specializes in machine teaching, imparting human expertise to machines, effectively utilizing the knowledge of process and industrial engineers to transform the landscape of automation.
About Ridgeline
Ridgeline is a Memphis-based venture capital firm investing in both software and hardware businesses that have the potential to transform foundational industries. Ridgeline was founded by partners Ryan Clinton, Ben Walker, and Andrew McMahon. The firm leverages its expertise and deep network to surround founders with the resources and relationships they need to navigate the fraught terrain between product potential and product market fit.
About Exposition Ventures
Exposition Ventures is an early-stage venture fund investing in companies advancing sustainable industry and enabling a digital transformation of the value chain. Exposition partners with entrepreneurs, leveraging our operational expertise and networks to help businesses scale. Exposition is located in Chicago and invests nationally.
