Napkin AI, a new platform that turns text into visuals using generative AI, has launched out of stealth with $10 million in seed funding from Accel and CRV. The startup aims to reimagine business communication by making visual storytelling accessible to everyone.
Founded by ex-Google engineers Pramod Sharma and Jerome Scholler, Napkin AI addresses the challenge of effectively communicating complex ideas in an era of information overload. The platform allows users to convert text content into a range of visuals, including flowcharts, graphs, and infographics, without requiring design skills.
"With the iPhone, Apple made it dead simple for anyone to take photos. We aim to do the same thing with graphics," said Sharma, Napkin's CEO. "Visuals are powerful, and we've designed Napkin so anyone can easily communicate their ideas through imagery."
The company's approach is generation-first, focusing on creating visuals from text input rather than adding generative features to an existing editor. Users can paste text or generate it from an AI prompt, then click a "spark icon" to transform content into recommended visuals within seconds. The platform offers customization options for fonts, colors, shapes, and designs.
Napkin AI integrates with popular tools like Google Docs, Slides, Microsoft Office, Slack, and Canva, enhancing existing workflows without requiring users to switch platforms. This functionality is currently in beta.
The startup's team includes experts in natural language processing, AI, and computer vision from companies like Amazon, Microsoft, GitHub, and Google. They're working on expanding Napkin's capabilities with more powerful customizations and unique visual categories.
As the platform moves out of beta, it aims to establish itself as a key player in the business communication space, offering a solution that bridges the gap between text-based ideas and impactful visual presentations.