engflow Raises $3.7M Seed Funding to Accelerate Code Compilation

The Growing Challenge of Software Compilation

Modern software applications are continually increasing in size and complexity. Even relatively small organizations frequently manage extensive collections of open-source code. This can make assembling project components, packaging them, and compiling them into a functional program a lengthy and demanding process for developers.

This often results in a significant impediment to development speed and efficiency.

EngFlow's Solution: Distributed Compilation

EngFlow, a newly established startup emerging from the Alchemist Accelerator, aims to address this issue by leveraging cloud computing to distribute the compilation process across numerous machines. Their approach is designed to accelerate project builds considerably.

The company asserts that they can reduce build times from hours to mere minutes, or even seconds, contingent upon the project's scale.

Seed Funding and Investment

The company recently announced a $3.7 million seed funding round. This investment was spearheaded by Andreessen Horowitz, with additional participation from firstminute Capital, Alchemist Accelerator, and a group of angel investors.

The Founders' Background

EngFlow’s founders, Helen Altshuler (CEO) and Ulf Adams (CTO), initially connected while working at Google. There, they directly experienced the challenges associated with prolonged build times.

They observed that despite advancements in computer processing power, the increasing intricacy of software led to progressively longer compilation durations.

How EngFlow Works

“Our system functions by dissecting the build process into smaller, manageable steps,” Adams explained. “These steps are then distributed across multiple machines, effectively shifting the workload from a single laptop to a cloud-based data center.”

He further elaborated, “If build speeds are insufficient, additional machines can be readily added to enhance performance.”

Leveraging Bazel Expertise

During his tenure at Google, Adams developed Bazel, a software solution designed to mitigate compilation bottlenecks. Google subsequently released Bazel as an open-source project.

Altshuler was responsible for promoting Bazel’s adoption within Google, demonstrating a long-standing collaborative relationship between the two founders prior to the launch of EngFlow in early 2020.

Beyond Bazel: A Broader Vision

As EngFlow evolves, Altshuler emphasizes their commitment to assisting developers who may not wish to directly implement Bazel and manage workload distribution themselves.

However, while recognizing Bazel as a crucial build system, they are determined not to limit their compatibility to it alone.

A Versatile Build Acceleration Service

“We offer a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution, providing distributed computing and build acceleration capabilities,” she stated. “Some clients even characterize our product as a build accelerator.”

“It is compatible with Bazel, but we are not exclusively tied to it – a noteworthy point considering our origins as the Bazel development team.” Currently, EngFlow supports Android and Chromium, with plans to incorporate additional build systems in the future.

Diversity and Company Culture

Altshuler shared her perspective on diversity, noting that she doesn’t primarily identify as a woman in technology. “I didn’t recognize myself as a woman in tech until I was invited to participate in a panel discussion on the topic, approximately ten years into my career,” she remarked.

She believes that her company’s diversity has emerged organically, stemming from the varied backgrounds of the founders and expanding through their extensive network.

Organic Growth and Inclusivity

“This has naturally led to increased outreach from a broader range of individuals, including more women, allowing us to achieve a more balanced team composition without deliberate targeting,” she added.

Early Traction and Future Outlook

EngFlow is already gaining momentum, with several paying customers including Snap, Brave, and Mighty Technologies.

By positioning themselves as more than just a commercial iteration of Bazel, they aspire to achieve substantial growth. The startup intends to maintain a remote work model as it expands, with the founders having not yet met in person since the company’s inception last year.