At this season’s Y Combinator Demo Day, artificial intelligence was the undeniable centerpiece. Whether it was developing autonomous AI agents or building infrastructure to support them, almost every startup had some connection to the fast-evolving world of AI.
A recurring pattern emerged among many of the presenters: startups pitching themselves as a specialized “Cursor for X.” Examples include Den, targeting enterprise knowledge workers, and Vesence, which is tailoring its product for legal professionals.
But not all attention was on AI — robotics made a noticeable comeback as well, with a few startups exploring automation hardware solutions.
Below are 11 startups that garnered significant interest from investors and observers alike:
🔍 Anvil
Focus: Optimizing brand presence on AI-powered platforms
Why it’s notable: With search behavior shifting toward tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity, Anvil offers brands a way to boost visibility and performance in these new digital environments.
🧱 Atum Works
Focus: Designing 3D chip architectures
Why it’s notable: As the miniaturization of transistors plateaus, Atum proposes stacking transistors vertically to boost computing power. Some investors view it as potentially transformative — possibly a future Nvidia.
⚙️ Auctor
Focus: Automating enterprise software rollouts
Why it’s notable: Major enterprise software vendors, including SAP and AWS, are already exploring Auctor’s solution to simplify client onboarding and internal deployments.
🌵 Cactus
Focus: AI assistant for solo entrepreneurs
Why it’s notable: Running a one-person business is demanding. Cactus aims to offload some responsibilities — like answering calls or handling payments — through its intelligent AI assistant.
🧠 Den
Focus: AI workspace for enterprise teams
Why it’s notable: One of the most buzzed-about startups in the batch, Den offers a smarter alternative to Slack and Notion, with AI agents tailored to each company’s knowledge-sharing needs.
💬Eloquent AI
Focus: AI customer service automation
Why it’s notable: Eloquent’s bots help users resolve complex banking or insurance issues without waiting for human reps. The company claims quick, code-free deployment and has already secured significant seed funding.
📊 LLM Data Company
Focus: Tools for LLM evaluation and reinforcement learning
Why it’s notable: As the AI market floods with tools, quality control is critical. This startup uses its own LLMs to assess others — already working with customers like Perplexity.
💹 Scalar Field
Focus: AI-enhanced financial analysis
Why it’s notable: Rather than just display data, Scalar Field’s platform empowers users to dynamically interact with and manipulate financial information — aiming to redefine financial terminals.
🛠 Sim Studios
Focus: Open-source platform to build AI agents
Why it’s notable: Sim Studios wants to make AI agent creation as intuitive as design tools like Figma. Its technology is already in use by clients including the U.S. Department of Defense.
⚛️ Sygaldry
Focus: Accelerated AI training using quantum-enhanced servers
Why it’s notable: While full quantum computing remains on the horizon, Sygaldry’s hardware provides immediate AI performance boosts. It’s led by Chad Rigetti, a quantum pioneer with a proven track record.
🎨 Vybe
Focus: Visual coding for rapid app development
Why it’s notable: Vybe enables users to build apps through interactive, code-free tools. One investor labeled it the “clear standout” of the entire Demo Day.
Want to see how these ideas come to life in motion? Explore curated AI-powered visuals and animations at gif.how — where innovation meets imagination.
