QWERKY AI, a new venture founded by tech entrepreneurs Andrew Strauss, Austin Riley, Chris Thibault, Evan Owen, and Kaitlin McKnight, has secured $2 million in seed funding from private investors in Columbia, South Carolina, and Oklahoma City.
The founding team has a decade-long track record of building and scaling impactful companies — including Sky Bison, Canary, 52inc and Merkle Root — across both tech and traditional industries, from blockchain, web and mobile application development to real estate and craft beer manufacturing. This diverse background equips them with a unique, multi-industry perspective, enabling the development of advanced AI solutions designed to address challenges consumers and businesses face.
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QWERKY AI is currently in stealth mode, with plans to launch its first product later this year. The team is focused on building an AI platform to showcase its novel inference engine, which enhances AI’s creative capabilities — starting with use cases in knowledge work and creative tools. The company plans to use the capital to grow its team and expand research and development efforts with a dedicated lab focused on AI prototyping and experimentation.
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“By giving every AI model the opportunity to feel genuinely human, we’re not merely improving tools — we’re challenging the industry to rethink what intelligence really means,” says Chris Thibault, co-founder and CEO.
Key highlights:
- $2 million raised in seed funding from strategic angel investors in South Carolina and Oklahoma
- Founders with a proven track record across four impactful companies spanning consumer tech, software platforms and traditional industries
- Focus on creating innovative AI tools designed to empower users across industries and drive breakthroughs in AI research
- Headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina, with a growing distributed team
Evan Owen, co-founder and CTO, says, “We’re excited to dive into research areas frequently neglected or ignored by larger AI enterprises and to add our quirky spin to the future of artificial intelligence.”
Andrew Strauss, co-founder and CRO, adds, “Having worked alongside my co-founders on other ventures, I have seen firsthand the tangible impact of their work across a wide range of clients, businesses and industries. Our team’s diverse expertise puts us in the game and gives us the ability to help shape the direction of the industry.”
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