Guardrails AI, a San Francisco-based startup co-founded by Seattle tech veteran Diego Oppenheimer, has secured a $7.5 million seed round to further its mission of helping companies manage risks associated with building AI applications.

The company, founded last year, has developed an open-source platform that enables developers to build and reuse validation techniques for their AI models. This platform aims to ensure reliability and prevent unintended outputs when working with large language models and other AI-related applications.

Shreya Rajpal, a seasoned AI engineer who previously worked on self-driving technology at Drive.ai and autonomous systems at Apple, leads Guardrails AI as the CEO and co-founder. Diego Oppenheimer, also a co-founder of the startup, brings his expertise as a Seattle tech veteran and previous co-founder of Algorithmia, a machine learning startup that was acquired by DataRobot in July 2021.

Diego Oppenheimer, expressing the company’s vision, wrote on LinkedIn, ‘We’re on a mission to empower AI developers to build safer, more trustworthy AI applications.’

Guardrails AI’s seed round was led by Zetta Venture Partners, with participation from notable backers including Bloomberg Beta, Pear VC, GitHub Fund, and several angels. Additionally, the venture capital firm and incubator Factory, where Oppenheimer serves as a partner and CEO-in-residence, also invested in the seed round for Guardrails AI.

The startup’s focus on enhancing the safety and reliability of AI applications aligns with the growing importance of ethical and trustworthy AI development. With the support of key investors and the leadership of experienced industry professionals, Guardrails AI is poised to make a significant impact in the AI technology landscape.