Softr Raises $2.2M Seed Funding - No-Code Platform

The no-code movement – software enabling task completion without traditional coding expertise – is gaining significant momentum, despite having been a long-anticipated development. Companies such as Airtable exemplify this trend, aiming to simplify the creation and management of relational databases to the ease of spreadsheet use. Now, Berlin-based startup Softr intends to further advance the no-code concept by offering a straightforward method for constructing websites directly from Airtable data, eliminating the need for coding.

Recently introduced on Product Hunt, the company today announced $2.2 million in seed funding. Prior to this, Softr was self-funded by its founders, CEO Mariam Hakobyan and CTO Artur Mkrtchyan, both originally from Armenia. This funding round was led by Atlantic Labs, with participation from Philipp Moehring (Tiny.VC), and founders from companies including GitHub, SumUp, Zeitgold, EyeEm and Rows.

Established in 2019, Softr has developed a no-code platform that empowers users to create websites and web applications utilizing data stored within Airtable. The core idea is to leverage Airtable’s database capabilities alongside Softr’s adaptable, yet template-focused, approach to website and web app development.

According to Hakobyan, Softr provides ready-made templates for a wide range of applications, from basic marketing websites to more complex web apps for e-commerce stores, job boards, marketplaces, and similar platforms. These applications can incorporate features such as user authentication, restricted content access, payment processing, voting, and commenting systems.

“Softr is designed to be incredibly user-friendly, requiring no prior technical skills,” Hakobyan states. “It removes all technical complexities, allowing users to concentrate on building their product and creating content, rather than dealing with technology.” She further explains that Softr utilizes Airtable as its database, simplifying the creation and sharing of relational databases without requiring knowledge of SQL or scripting languages. Airtable’s popularity has grown considerably in recent years, with users ranging from individuals to large Fortune 500 corporations.

Hakobyan emphasizes that Softr’s strength lies in its use of “pre-built building blocks” – such as listings, user accounts, and payment integrations – and pre-defined business logic to handle much of the complex work for website creators. She notes that “When utilizing blocks and templates, approximately 70% of the work is already completed for the user.”

Furthermore, Softr integrates with a variety of popular services, including Stripe, PayPal, Mailchimp, Zapier, Integromat, Hotjar, Google Analytics, HubSpot, and Drift.

Currently, Softr is being used by “several thousands of creators and startups.” Customers have successfully built applications like a language learning school with membership features, a babysitting service booking marketplace, and an online community offering exclusive content and courses.

With this new funding, Softr intends to broaden its customer base to include non-technical roles within small and medium-sized businesses, assisting them in developing internal tools – such as employee directories, product inventories, and real estate listings – and automating routine tasks.