Flai, an AI startup founded by Ari Polakof and his brother Alen, along with Juan Alzugary, has secured $4.5 million in seed funding. The funding round was led by Liz Wessel at First Round Capital, with participation from YC, RedBlue Capital, Joe Montana’s Liquid 2 Ventures, and Innovation Endeavors.
Flai is developing AI-powered software tailored for car dealerships, capable of handling phone calls, emails, and texts. The company's approach involves direct engagement with dealerships, with the founders initially embedding themselves with dealers to train their AI and secure customers. Polakof emphasizes that Flai's technology is built from scratch, setting it apart from off-the-shelf solutions.
The funding will be used to scale Flai's operations while maintaining a focused, efficient team. The company aims to improve the car dealership experience by addressing issues like missed customer calls and streamlining communication.