The Rise of Tribe AI: From Startup to Industry Leader in AI Services
In 2019, Jaclyn Rice Nelson and Noah Gale took a leap of faith by launching Tribe AI, an AI talent and services company. At the time, they had to convince businesses of the importance of having an AI strategy. Fast forward to 2022, with the release of ChatGPT and the ensuing AI frenzy, Tribe AI has experienced a surge in demand like never before.
Rice Nelson, CEO of Tribe, foresaw this trend during her time as a Growth VP at Alphabet's growth fund, CapitalG. She noticed that companies backed by the firm, such as Stripe and Airbnb, were turning to Google for assistance in machine learning and data science. Similarly, Gale, with his experience at Gigster, observed a growing need for AI expertise among emerging companies.
Initially focused on helping companies hire contract AI talent, Tribe AI has evolved into a full-fledged AI services firm. With a network of over 500 contractors, Tribe builds products and projects for clients, working with various cloud providers and language models. Their customer base includes well-known companies like MyFitnessPal and New Relic.
Tribe's revenue has been steadily growing, with an eight-figure revenue run rate set to double this year. By offering talent on a contract basis, the company keeps payroll costs low. Recently, Tribe secured a $3.25 million seed round led by Bryce Roberts of Indie Ventures, allowing them to scale up operations and develop tools to automate project processes.
The demand for AI services has skyrocketed since the advent of generative AI, creating opportunities for companies like Tribe. While major consulting groups like McKinsey and Accenture are competitors, Tribe's experience and focus on providing talent and expertise sets them apart. Rice Nelson emphasizes Tribe's track record in building AI products since 2019, positioning them as a reliable partner in the ever-evolving AI landscape.
In conclusion, the rise of Tribe AI reflects the increasing importance of AI in business strategy. As companies navigate the complexities of AI implementation, firms like Tribe play a crucial role in providing the necessary talent and tools to drive success in the digital age.