AI Startup Studio Aims for 100,000 Launches Per Year

A New Venture: Audos and the Democratization of AI Entrepreneurship

For the past 15 years, Henrik Werdelin has assisted entrepreneurs in developing prominent brands, such as Barkbox, through his startup studio, Prehype. He is now introducing Audos, a New York-based company, predicated on the belief that AI can significantly expand his capacity to support startups.

The Current Landscape Fuels Opportunity

The present circumstances are particularly opportune. Widespread job reductions across numerous sectors have prompted many professionals to reassess their career trajectories. Simultaneously, AI tools have substantially reduced the obstacles to creating digital products and services.

Werdelin’s new venture sits at the intersection of these trends, aiming to empower “everyday entrepreneurs” to establish AI-driven companies worth millions, even without possessing technical expertise.

From Prehype to Audos: A Shift in Focus

Werdelin’s transition from Prehype to Audos mirrors the evolving nature of entrepreneurship. At Prehype, the emphasis was on collaborating with tech founders to build conventional startups, those typically seeking substantial funding and aiming for billion-dollar valuations.

Now, he explains to TechCrunch, the goal is to leverage accumulated knowledge and methodologies from years of building successful companies, and to make them accessible to a wider audience.

Empowering Entrepreneurs with AI Tools

The concept centers around assisting “everyday entrepreneurs” who recognize emerging opportunities but may lack the skills to experiment with AI agents or effectively reach potential customers.

Audos provides these individuals with AI-powered tools to develop sophisticated products using natural language, and utilizes social media algorithms to identify their target customer base.

Leveraging Social Media Algorithms for Customer Acquisition

“Platforms like Facebook possess remarkable algorithms, adept at identifying and reaching your ideal customer if you clearly define your target group,” states Werdelin, who co-founded Audos with Nicholas Thorne.

Audos employs this system to rapidly assess the viability of a founder’s business concept and determine sustainable customer acquisition costs.

Early Success and Diverse Founder Profiles

The approach is proving successful. Since its beta launch, Audos has facilitated the launch of “low hundreds” of businesses, attracting customers through Instagram advertisements asking, “Have you ever considered starting a business, but don’t know where to begin?”

These founders include a car mechanic offering repair quote evaluations, a provider of “after death logistics” services, virtual golf instructors, and AI-powered nutritionists.

Werdelin playfully refers to these small teams as “donkeycorns,” in contrast to the more ambitious “unicorns” of the tech world.

The Audos Launch Process

All founders followed a consistent process: they clicked on Audos’ advertisement, engaged in a conversation with its AI agent to define their problem and target audience, and were then connected with potential customers quickly.

A Revenue-Sharing Model

Audos operates on a unique financial model, differing from traditional accelerators or venture capital firms. Instead of taking equity, the company receives a 15% share of the businesses’ revenue.

In exchange, founders receive up to $25,000 in funding, access to AI-driven business development tools, and assistance with distribution, primarily through paid social media advertising.

Focus on Sustainable Businesses, Not High-Growth Exits

“We do not take any equity in their business,” Werdelin emphasizes. He believes that these companies are unlikely to be sold. “We are inspired by the mom-and-pop shops that form the foundation of our society.”

The revenue share continues indefinitely, similar to the fees charged by Apple’s App Store.

Potential Trade-offs and Challenges

This model requires founders to relinquish a significant portion of their revenue indefinitely—a 15% cut that could amount to substantial sums over time. While some may find this trade-off acceptable, others may question its long-term value.

Audos’ value proposition also raises questions given the rapidly evolving AI landscape. While the company focuses on building customer relationships, the extent to which AI agents can handle this work remains unclear.

Differentiation is another concern, as similar AI tools are becoming increasingly accessible. The question arises: what happens when entrepreneurs can access comparable capabilities without a permanent revenue share?

Investor Confidence and Future Potential

Audos’ investors appear optimistic. True Ventures led the company’s $11.5 million seed round, with partner Tony Conrad citing confidence in Werdelin and Thorne, and the potential for widespread adoption of the platform.

Conrad draws parallels to Instagram’s successful exit with a small team, suggesting that AI could amplify leverage even further.

Werdelin explains, “Our aim is to empower millions of people to create million-dollar or half-million-dollar businesses that are impactful and life-changing.”

He adds that the goal is to establish a trillion-dollar turnover business by creating a million companies each generating a million dollars in annual revenue.

A Compelling Proposition for the Future

As of mid-2025, this vision doesn’t seem unrealistic. Expanding entrepreneurial opportunities to those lacking traditional access to capital or technical skills is increasingly relevant as traditional employment becomes less secure.

“We believe in supporting smaller entrepreneurs building ventures that may not attract venture capital,” says Werdelin. “We believe that a world with more entrepreneurship is a better world.”

Additional Investors

Other investors in Audos include Offline Ventures and Bungalow Capital, alongside prominent angel investors such as Niklas Zennström and Mario Schlosser.

Image: Audos co-founders Nicholas Thorne and Henrik Werdelin.