TestRigor Raises $4M Seed Funding for AI-Powered QA Testing

testRigor Secures $4.1 Million Seed Funding

The concept behind testRigor involves translating human-readable instructions, similar to those a manual QA tester would follow, into automated testing scripts. This innovative approach is what the Y Combinator Summer 2021 participant has successfully implemented. The startup recently announced a $4.1 million seed round to further its development.

Investment Details

The funding round saw participation from investors including FlashPoint VC, Y Combinator, PTV, and Phystech Ventures, alongside contributions from individual investors. Prior to this, the company had secured $300,000 in angel funding and $700,000 in a pre-seed round, bringing the total funding raised to $5.1 million.

How testRigor Works

A key feature of testRigor is its ability to convert simple, plain-language instructions – such as “Click the Start button” or “Click the Stop button” – into executable code. This code is then automatically run, and a pass/fail result is reported for the application under test.

“The system executes the provided instructions and delivers a clear pass or fail outcome. In the event of a failure, detailed information regarding the issue is provided, facilitating the creation of a JIRA ticket for resolution or outlining the steps needed to reproduce the problem. This is where we deliver the most significant value,” explained Artem Golubev, co-founder and CEO.

Simplifying Test Creation

To streamline the testing process, the company has developed a Chrome extension that allows for the recording of testing steps. Furthermore, testRigor can automatically generate tests based on application analytics, focusing on the features most frequently used by end-users.

This automated test generation based on user behavior is referred to as behavioral testing. “Our analytics script is deployed in a live production environment, and the system then automatically constructs a test based on how your application is being utilized by your end-users,” Golubev stated.

Company Growth and Future Plans

Currently, testRigor serves approximately 100 customers, including prominent companies like Netflix and other Fortune 500 organizations. The team consists of 22 employees, with 12 new hires joining this year.

Golubev aims to expand the team to 30 employees by the end of the year. He acknowledges that recruitment has presented challenges, which was a primary motivation for joining Y Combinator – to leverage their expertise in this area.

“A significant portion of my time is dedicated to addressing the hiring challenge, and we recognized YC’s potential to assist us. Our most pressing issue is the inability to hire at the necessary pace,” he said, adding that participation in YC has proven beneficial.

Diversity and Remote Work

Despite the difficulties in hiring, Golubev emphasizes the importance of a diverse workforce, noting that approximately 40% of his 22 employees are women. He believes many companies overlook talented individuals due to unconscious biases. “Many companies miss out on highly skilled candidates because of preconceived notions and unrealistic expectations,” he explained.

Originally launched as a remote company before the COVID-19 pandemic, Golubev initially considered opening a physical office with this new funding. However, he has now committed to a 100% remote model, citing GitLab, a fully remote organization, as an inspiration for his company’s growth.